D-12 WAFCON : Asisat Oshoala, an icon born on the lawns of the 2014 AFCON

As the excitement builds for the 13th edition of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, CAFOnline.com invites you to look back at some of the most memorable moments in the tournament’s rich history. Among them, the 2014 edition stands out as the stage where a future superstar emerged: Asisat Oshoala.

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While Nigeria’s name is already etched in gold in the tournament’s record books, it was in 2014 that a new name burst onto the scene and never looked back. That of a 20-year-old forward—relatively unknown at the time—who left an indelible mark on the tournament hosted in Namibia.

That edition proved to be her springboard. Leading the line for the Super Falcons, Asisat Oshoala scored four goals, provided key assists, and quickly established herself as the most influential player of the tournament. In the final, she helped Nigeria defeat Cameroon 2-0 to lift the title—Nigeria’s seventh Women’s AFCON crown. Oshoala, for her part, was named the tournament’s Best Player.

Even before dazzling in Namibia, she had shaken the global football world at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she scored seven goals and won both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball.

“2014 changed the course of my life,” she later said. “It was my first major senior tournament, and that’s when I realized I could become one of the best.”

An Unstoppable Rise

Eleven years on, Asisat Oshoala has become the face of African women’s football. She holds a record six CAF Women’s Player of the Year titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023)—a remarkable achievement. But these awards have never been empty accolades; everywhere she has played, the former Rivers Angels striker has left a lasting impact.

She made her European debut with Liverpool before joining Arsenal, and in 2019, she took a major leap by signing with FC Barcelona. In Catalonia, her game matured further: she won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2021, becoming the first African woman to score in a final. A year later, she finished as joint top scorer in Spain’s Liga F with 20 goals.

“I represent something bigger than myself,” she said in 2022 when extending her contract with Barça. “I know that thousands of young girls across Africa are watching me.”

Her national team record commands respect: three Women’s AFCON titles (2014, 2016, 2018), over 30 international goals, and rare longevity at the highest level. She has played in three FIFA Women’s World Cups, scoring in each edition. In 2023, against Australia, she became the first African player to score in three different Women’s World Cups—a composed finish that perfectly encapsulated her journey.

As the 2024 Women’s AFCON approaches, Asisat Oshoala is preparing to take part in her fifth continental finals. A rare level of consistency, matching her immense talent. In 2014, she conquered Africa. Ten years later, she returns as an icon.

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