I was fortunate to play with them - Oshoala names 3 Super Falcons stars who inspired her

Six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to former Super Falcons stars who laid the foundation for her rise in Nigerian women’s football.

Oshoala, who started her journey in Nigeria with Robo Queens before moving to Rivers Angels, made her mark in Europe with top clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Barcelona.

Speaking on Arise News following Nigeria’s run at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, the Bay FC striker named Perpetua Nkwocha, Precious Dede, and Rita Chikwelu as major influences in her career.

“Right now, if you Google players to see who has the most goals in the clubs, you have the likes of Perpetua Nkwocha,” Oshoala said.

She continued, “Those are the people that paved the way for someone like me to be able to come into the Super Falcons and enjoy certain things.”

She noted how fortunate she was to have played alongside some of the legends before they retired.

“You have the goalkeeper Precious Dede, Rita Chikwelu, so many Super Falcons players. I was fortunate to play with some of them before they retired,” she added.

The 30-year-old forward played 61 games for the Super Falcons and 37 goals. She won the 2015 FA Women's Cup with Arsenal, multiple titles with Dalian, and the 2019–20 Copa de la Reina and 2019–20 Supercopa de España Femenina with Barcelona.

In 2019, she became the first African player to score in a UEFA Women's Champions League final. In 2021, she became the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League and later, the first African woman to win the Primera División's Pichichi Trophy.

In August 2022, she was the first African woman nominated for the Ballon d'Or Féminin, and in 2024, she became the first African player to win the UEFA Champions League three times.