Before becoming the face of women’s football in Nigeria, Asisat Oshoala’s journey was one of incredible determination and resilience. Born in the slums of Ikorodu, she defied all expectations to make her football dreams a reality. This article explores her full story, from her humble beginnings to her rise as a football icon. As a young girl, she pursued her passion for the sport, even when it went against her parents’ wishes. Her father, Alhaji Oshoala, still gets emotional watching her score goals for FC Barcelona, a testament to how far she has come.
Asisat faced many challenges growing up, including criticism from those who believed that football wasn’t meant for girls. Her journey was further complicated by her Islamic background, which made it difficult to pursue her passion in the early stages of her career. Despite these obstacles, she persevered and emerged as a top contender for the title of Africa’s greatest female footballer. This biography captures the inspiring story of a young girl who, against all odds, carved out her own path and achieved greatness on the global stage.
Preamble:
Asisat Oshoala’s story is much more than just her skills on the football field—it’s a rich biography that delves into her life beyond the game. This piece introduces you to her parents, Alhaji Oshoala and Iya Asisa, and provides an in-depth look at her childhood, family background, and siblings: two brothers, Abdulbasit and Olayinka Oshoala, and her sister, Sherifat Omosholape. You’ll also learn about her grandparents, uncles, aunts, and more.
Our goal is to spark your interest in Asisat Oshoala’s incredible journey. To start, here’s a gallery showcasing her life, from her memorable childhood moments to her rise to representing the national team. Truly, Oshoala has made remarkable strides in her football career.
Asisat Oshoala Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, she bears the nickname “Seedorf,” and her full name is Asisat Lamina Oshoala. The forward was born on the 9th day of October 1994 to her parents, Alhaji and Mrs Oshoala, in Ikorodu, Nigeria.
She arrived in the world as one of the seven children born to the marital union between her Dad and Mum. Now, let’s introduce you to Asisat Oshoala’s parents. Meet Alhaji Oshoala (Dad) and his wife, persons who have showered the athlete with unconditional love since birth.
Growing-Up Years:
Interestingly, Oshoala was raised in the town of her birth alongside her siblings, most notably Sherifat (her sister) and Abdulbasit (her brother).
Since childhood, she has established an inseparable bond with her siblings. Below is a rare picture of the striker and her brother.
Also, she has a close relationship with her mother. Despite being the family’s first daughter, Oshoala maximizes every slight opportunity to spend time with her mum.
Back in the day, the goal scorer was an easygoing lady who gave little thought to her appearance. She enjoys dressing in athletic gear and only wears makeup and jewellery for special occasions. Due to her inclination toward sportswear, Asisat Oshoala often looks funny whenever she wears her native attire.
Asisat Oshoala Early Life:
Apparently, the iconic player grew up in an Islamic household. Hence, she had to abide by the rules of her religion strictly.
This meant that Oshoala had to observe her daily prayer five times, wear her hijab, and much more.
Of course, she diligently kept all the aforementioned obligations to the delights of her parents. However, there was a part of her that no one in her family could understand.
It appeared that the young lass had taken a liking to soccer and often played the game in the streets of Mushin.
At first, her parents thought it was just an unusual desire that every growing lady experiences. But with time, they realized that Oshoala was becoming even more passionate about football.
Everything seemed like a taboo, especially to her parents, who couldn’t understand why their daughter would prefer to play soccer over other usual feminine games.
Earliest Career Challenge:
Seeing that his daughter was already losing herself to the most famous sport in her country, Oshoala’s dad prohibited her from playing the game.
Strangely, the Starlet didn’t consider her parents’ stringent restrictions as a warning that threatened her.
More so, she continued leaving the house undetected to play street soccer with her neighbourhood buddies.
Oshoala didn’t have big expectations during her childhood because she was unlikely to join professional clubs.
Her parents occasionally threatened to send her away or even stop feeding her after she returned from her regular training.
The only relative who could support her at the time was her late grandma, who frequently saved her.
Asisat Oshoala Family Background:
Starting off, the Nigerian footballer and her household are from a Muslim religious background. Wealth was only a wish that crossed the athlete’s mind in her early days. Apparently, she is from a middle-class family background.
Regarding her parents’ occupation, Asisat Oshoala’s parents were shopkeepers. Alhaji Oshoala and his wives could provide for the family and keep them from debt and hardship.
Also, they were able to give their children a good education with the income they earned.
Judging from the photo above, it is clear how close Asisat Oshoala’s family is. Given how far she has come in her career, everyone in her family admires her.
Also, they constantly support the baller by sharing her wins and cheering her in the background.
Asisat Oshoala Family Life:
Superzee, as her teammates call her, is blessed with a close-knit family.
It is indescribable how happy, grateful and proud she is to have these sets of people supporting her day in and day out.
We’ll use this section of the striker’s Bio to talk about members of her household.
About Asisat Oshoala’s Father:
Unlike the rest of his family, he gets emotional whenever his daughter plays or receives outstanding awards.
Being a formal storekeeper, Mr Oshoala has always cared for and supported his family.
Though we did not have much information about the striker’s Dad, one thing is sure. He is very emotional and proud of his daughter, as seen here. During her recipient of the Women Footballer of the Year Award at the 2017 AITEO/CAF Awards in Accra,
About Asisat Oshoala’s Mother:
The Futbol Club Barcelona women’s striker considers her mother a living miracle. A woman who has supported and loved her with all of her strength.
Asisat finds her mother’s love eternal, and she can never envisage a life without her in it. In summary, she is her mother’s daughter and always loves to be around her.
About Asisat Oshoala Siblings:
Although no documentation exists about her siblings, one thing is certain. The fact they are very supportive of their sister.
Also, our research shows that Asisat has a sister, Sherifat, who is a TV presenter. She finished at the prestigious University in Nigeria, the University of Lagos.
Asisat Oshoala Family Origin:
For starters, the Barcelona Forward holds Nigerian nationalities.
Regarding where Asisat Oshoala’s family comes from (in Nigeria), our research points to Ikorodu, Nigeria, the place of her birth. The town is the second-most populous local government area in Lagos State.
Ikorodu Town has a population of about 2 million people. Also, it shares a border with Ogun State and is situated northeast of Lagos along the Lagos Lagoon.
Here is a map to help you understand Asisat Oshoala’s family origins.
Asisat Oshoala Ethnicity:
In western Nigeria, where she comes from, Yoruba is the lingua franca, which she speaks fluently. Popular football players, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Taiwo Awoniyi, have their origins in this ethnic group.
The Yoruba language has many dialects: Ekiti, Igbomina, Ijebu, Ijesa, Oyo, Ondo, Owo, etc. However, the standard Yoruba is a blend of two closely related dialects, Oyo and Lagos.
Asisat Oshoala Education:
When she approached school age, her parents were able to raise the needed funds for her studies. Asisat attended Air Force Elementary School in Victoria Island for her primary education.
This was before she transferred to Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi for her secondary education.
Asisat received her primary and secondary education in Lagos. Finally, she graduated in 2009 after completing her secondary education.
Despite being an intelligent student in school, Oshoala’s true love was football. After secondary school, she decided not to continue her education in favour of pursuing her love of football.
Career Buildup:
Asisat Lamina Oshoala is best described as a tenacious youngster. One who overcame all obstacles to guarantee that her aspirations would come true.
Despite her challenges, her zeal and abilities gave her the best opportunity to become what she wanted to be.
According to the female superstar,
I have always enjoyed sports and have been an athlete since childhood. I normally run from school to my house.
Then I started playing football with my classmates, primarily boys, and that was when I started to take an interest.
But back then, I didn’t consider myself a professional. My parents, who did not want me to play, did not support me either.
They didn’t begin assisting me until they realized I was serious.
Asisat had no real example to take inspiration from or to follow in her footsteps. However, she put her focus on football and left home to go after her ambition.
Nevertheless, the striker stood her ground and pursued a career in football.
Asisat Oshoala Biography – Football Story:
The starlet completed her secondary studies and spent many months at home. During that period, she persuaded her parents to allow her to play football.
They did agree, but only half-heartedly. She thus began participating in local leagues and was discovered by a local scout.
Interestingly, they convinced her to sign with FC Robo in 2009, a club with headquarters in Lagos. There, Asisat played as a Forward. More so, she played with the team from 2009 until 2013 before switching to the Rivers Angels.
Asisat Early Manifestations:
The Nigerian forward competed in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2014. For her excellent performance in River’s Angels, she rose to fame.
Also, she earned Player of the Tournament honours after becoming the competition’s top scorer with seven goals.
Thanks to her effort, Nigeria finished the competition in the second position overall. Also, Asisat was named the top player and second-leading goal scorer for the Super Falcons team.
Falcons won the African Women’s Championship in 2014 due to her great performance in Canada.
Because of her stifling performances in Namibia and Canada, Oshoala was given the opportunity to join the Super Falcons team.
Additionally, she was a part of the group that travelled to Canada in 2015 for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, it was under the direction of team coach Edwin Okon.
Emphatically, Asisat’s stage appears to be Canada because of her amazing performance at the World Cup. Oshoala joined the Liverpool Ladies on January 23, 2015, before going to represent Nigeria in July of the same year.
Road to Fame Story:
The baller joined Liverpool on January 23, 2015. She became the first African woman to play in the Women’s Super League.
Also, Oshoala had a great rookie season with the club. That helped her win the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award in 2015.
However, she had some setbacks during that season. The athlete missed two months of the 2015 season due to a knee injury.
At that time, Liverpool finished seventh out of eight teams following the previous season’s league title.
Journey with Arsenal:
As if that weren’t enough, in 2016, Arsenal exercised Asisat’s release clause from Liverpool. The baller officially became a member of the North London Club’s women’s team.
According to Manager Pedro Losa, Asisat will be a wonderful addition to our team. It’s great that she’s decided to join us because she’s speedy. Also, she has good feet and has scored goals in the past.
Furthermore, she also contributed to Arsenal’s victory in the FA Women’s Cup Final of 2016 in May. Again, Seedorf had two goals in the same season. Arsenal had a 16-4-2 record and finished in third place.
Journey with Dalian Quanjian:
A year later, the Chinese club Dalian Quanjian F.C. formally recruited Oshoala from the Arsenal Women’s team. Oshoala led the 2017 Superleague in goals while briefly in China.
She contributed 12 goals to Dalian Quanjian’s club in 2017, which helped them win the league title. Evidently, the striker received the league’s Golden Boot title for scoring the most goals.
Additionally, she helped the team win the 2017 Women’s Super Cup by scoring four goals for them. Asisat contributed to the club’s second consecutive league triumph in October 2018.
Journey with FC Barcelona:
FC Barcelona Femen signed Oshoala on January 31, 2019, for a season-long loan.
On May 31, 2019, Barcelona confirmed Asisat Oshoala’s transfer to the club and extended her contract until 2022. In the 2018–19 season, she played seven matches and scored seven goals.
In 2019, she made history as the first African and Barcelona Femení player to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League Final. She also became the first Nigerian to score in any UEFA Champions League final.
Then, on May 16, 2021, Oshoala achieved another milestone by becoming the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League.
This was after coming on in the 71st minute of the finals against Barcelona, defeating Chelsea 4–0.
Interestingly, Asisat joins the likes of Alexia Putellas, who is among FC Barcelona Femeni’s top players.
Asisat Oshoala Bio – Rise to Fame Story:
Following the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, she experienced tremendous fame. The forward finished the competition as the best player with seven goals.
She joined Liverpool Ladies in January 2015 and made history by being the first African player in the Women’s Super League.
Additionally, she contributed to the senior Nigerian team’s victory at the African Women’s Championship in October.
Also, Asisat revealed her inclusion on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list on social media in April 2020. See the image below that proves that fact. However, this information demonstrates her current success in the football world.
Super Falcon striker Asisat Oshoala has been named the 2022 CAF Women’s Player of the Year.
The finisher was declared the winner of the gala held in Rabat, Morrocco. “Superzee” becomes the first player in history to receive five African Player of the Year honours with this victory.
However, Oshoala was the only Nigerian nominee to make the 2022 CAF Awards’ final shortlist. In addition to that, she previously won the award in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, etc., were male nominees, and Sadio won the crown.
Football fans have taken to social media to express their adoration for Oshoala after she was named the African Women’s Player of the Year at the 2022 CAF Awards.
On TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, users of all ages have praised the Nigerian by shouting “Agba Baller” at the top of their lungs.
International Career:
Oshoala started her professional career as an attacking midfielder for Nigeria’s senior national team. However, she was a much better player when she played forward for Nigeria’s junior teams. According to the player, she can play any position given to her at any time.
Asisat has won “Best African Player in the World” five times, as mentioned earlier. The year 2014 was the best because she won the Ballon d’Or and Golden Shoe at the U20 World Cup. On June 8, 2015, Oshoala scored her first goal in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Also, she contributed to the team’s second goal in Winnipeg’s 3-3 tie with Sweden. In addition, Oshoala also competed with the Super Falcons, which won the African Women’s Championship in 2016 and 2018.
In June 2023, Asisat, Ashleigh Plumptre and Rasheedat Ajibade (amongst others) made Randy Waldrum’s list for the 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup. The rest, as we say, is history.
Asisat Oshoala, Daughter:
According to all indications, the former African Footballer of the Year had her first child during her teenage age. Our research shows it was prior to choosing football as a career. The Falcon reveals her daughter to the world during a question and answers section with fans.
Many of us were shocked when she revealed her first daughter on social media because Oshola’s daughter was already a grown woman.
In conclusion, a female fan advised Oshoala to become pregnant for Messi and give birth to Messi Jr. Rachael Brown, a female Nigerian fan, sarcastically suggested that Asisat Oshoala to get pregnant for Lionel Messi so they can produce another Messi for Nigeria.
Personal Life:
Away from the wonders that the Nigerian professional footballer from Ikorodu does on the pitch, many have asked…
WHO IS ASISAT OSHOALA?
The formal Liverpool shooting star joins the likes of Diego Maradona and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have Libra Zodiac signs.
Asisat Oshoala is a driven and self-confident person. The Baller is incredibly upbeat about everything, especially her work and family.
Asisat Oshoala Workout:
It is believed that the athlete exercises frequently to maintain proper fitness. In addition to receiving football instruction from her club, Oshoala also exercises.
She primarily works out via running, rowing, etc. The striker is a person who does not joke about her mental vacation. Oshoala loves spending her time alone on the beach. It helps her reflect, rejuvenate and recover from stress.
Lifestyle:
The Nigerian striker isn’t the type who uses her social media accounts to flaunt her wealth.
Additionally, to boost self-confidence or mention her accomplishments. Asisat Oshoala’s record modest lifestyle is noticeable in her decent demeanour.
For the formal Falcon Captain, there is enough money to live a normal life.
And Asisat provides for herself and her family with any expensive lifestyle they want. See the collections of the baller’s cars and houses.
Untold Facts:
In the concluding section of About Asisat’s Biography, we’ll unveil more facts you might not know about her. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
How Rich is the Net Burster:
Where Asisat Oshoala’s family comes from (Nigeria), the comfortable middle-class earner makes around 4,060,000 Naira annually. Do you know?… Such a person would need as many as 64 years to earn her monthly salary with FC Barcelona.
Asisat Oshoala FIFA:
The star is similar to Alessia Russo and Alex Morgan, her female counterparts from England and the USA. They are finishers who excel in all areas of football, ranging from composure, speed, skill, and direction. Here is a view of Oshoala’s Sofifa.
Asisat Oshoala Academy:
The five-time African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, announced through her social media handles the opening of her Academy. The ‘Asisat Oshoala Academy’ (AOA) partners with Nike and Women Win.
However, AOA was created to give neglected schoolgirls in Lagos access to football and life skills. Also, the academy shows her commitment to giving young girls in her neighbourhood access to sports and education.
More so, the baller’s Foundation, which was founded in 2015, is in charge of overseeing the academy’s daily operations.
Women Win, a global women’s fund established in Amsterdam that promotes girls’ and women’s rights, will contribute its knowledge to the academy.
Asisat Oshoala Religion:
The Ikorodu-born Nigeria Forward is a devout Muslim. She was raised in a good Muslim home and strictly followed the commandments of Allah.
The strikers’ parents are also Muslims and ensured she was brought up in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Asisat Oshoala’s Foundation:
The Falcon’s player has a foundation that supports sports and education for young women across Nigeria. The athlete has done many noble acts through the foundation.
One was in 2021, when she collaborated with the pharmaceutical brand Ezmor to start the football4girls tournament. Interestingly, this grassroots football event gave women the confidence to love the game.
EndNote:
Asisat Oshoala was born on the 9th day of October 1994 to Iya Asisa (her Mum) and Alhaji Oshoala (her Dad).
Her birthplace is Ikorodu Town, Lagos, Nigeria. Also, she was given the nickname “Seedorf” after male footballer Clarence Seedorf.
The Ace Striker has other siblings from the union between her parents. Also, she has other step-siblings from her Dad because he married two wives.
Our research shows that Asisat and her siblings love and support each other. Regarding her roots, Asisat Oshoala’s family is from the Western part of Nigeria.
Based on research, the ex-Arsenal player started playing football after her secondary education. Initially, her parents were not in support, but they finally gave in when they saw her determination.
She played on the street, at home, and even in school with boys. Also, Superzee said in an interview that only her grandmother first believed in her dreams.
Asisat also attended her primary school at Air Force Elementary School in Victoria Island. She finished her secondary education at Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi. However, all of her education was in Lagos, Nigeria.
Since the beginning of her career, Asisat Oshoala’s journey has taken her to Arsenal, Liverpool, etc.
As I conclude her Bio, Asisat, like Salma Paralluelo, is one of Barcelona’s strike queens, if not the best. She has many honours for herself, her country, and Africa. She is an inspiration to many aspiring football players.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Asisat Oshoala ’s Biography. We are committed to accuracy and fairness in our continuous effort to bring you stories about African soccer. Asisat Oshoala’s biography is part of our collection, showcasing the journeys of Nigerian football players.
Kindly contact us via comments if you notice anything that doesn’t look right in this memoir of the FC Barcelona Goal Machine. Also, please tell us what you think about the career of the Goal Poacher and the impressive article we’ve made about her.
Aside from Asisat Oshoala, we’ve got other great Women footballers’ Childhood Stories for your reading pleasure. The Life History of Lauren James and Australian Sam Kerr will excite you.