FIFA has revisited Asisat Oshoala’s outstanding display at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, describing her seven-goal campaign as one of the tournament’s most memorable individual performances.
In a feature published on its website, world football’s governing body recalled how the Nigerian striker emerged as a global star during the competition, winning both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball.
Oshoala scored once during the group stage before producing her best performances in the knockout rounds.
She scored twice against New Zealand in the quarter-final before netting four times against DPR Korea in the semi-final to help Nigeria reach the final.
The Falconets, however, were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final, but Oshoala’s performances ensured she left the tournament with two of its major individual awards.
Her seven goals placed her joint-fourth among the highest scorers in a single edition of the competition, alongside DPR Korea’s Kim Un-Hwa.
The record remains held jointly by Christine Sinclair and Alexandra Popp, who each scored 10 goals at the 2002 and 2010 editions respectively.
Oshoala remains the only African player to have won the U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot.
Canada 2014 Launchpad
FIFA noted that Oshoala’s exploits in Canada provided an important springboard for what would become a highly decorated career.
Just two months after the tournament, she won her first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with Nigeria.
She subsequently received her first senior World Cup call-up for the 2015 tournament in Canada, where she scored in Nigeria’s 3-3 draw against Sweden.
Oshoala continued to make her mark on the international stage at the 2019 World Cup in France, scoring a memorable goal against the Republic of Korea as Nigeria reached the knockout stage for the first time since 1999.
Four years later, she created further history at the 2023 World Cup by scoring against co-hosts Australia, becoming the first African player to score at three different editions of the tournament.
Her hopes of appearing at a fourth World Cup were ended after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
African Football Great
Now 31, Oshoala has established herself as one of Africa’s most successful female footballers.
She has won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award six times and has four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles to her name.
At club level, she has played for English sides Liverpool and Arsenal, Chinese club Dalian Quanjian, Barcelona and Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
She currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
Oshoala has also made a significant contribution to the Nigeria senior team, scoring 40 goals in 74 appearances.
