Oshoala Announces Retirement from Super Falcons After WAFCON

Nigerian football icon Asisat Oshoala has declared her intention to retire from international football following the 2024/25 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The 30-year-old striker, widely regarded as Africa’s most decorated female footballer, made her announcement in an emotional statement, signifying the upcoming end of a glittering era.

“At 30, with six African Women’s Best Player awards, I will bow out to start a new chapter after WAFCON 2024/25,” Oshoala said, reflecting on her remarkable journey with the Super Falcons.

A Storied Career: Oshoala’s Roll of Honour

Oshoala’s legacy is marked by numerous accolades spanning both African and global football landscapes. Her achievements include:

• BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2015
• African Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023
• African Women’s Youth Player of the Year: 2014
• African Women’s Championship Golden Ball: 2014
• African Women’s Championship Golden Boot: 2016
• FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: 2014
• FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
• Primera División Top Scorer: 2021–22 (with FC Barcelona Femení)
• Chinese Women’s Super League Top Scorer: 2017
• IFFHS CAF Best Woman Player of the Decade: 2011–2020
• IFFHS All-time Africa Women’s Dream Team: 2021
• IFFHS CAF Women’s Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
• IFFHS Women’s CAF Best Player of the Year: 2020, 2021
• IFFHS Women’s CAF Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2023
• Queen of The Pitch Award: 2014

International and Club Impact

Oshoala’s tenure with the Super Falcons has seen her help clinch multiple continental titles, confirming Nigeria’s status as a powerhouse in African women’s football. Her dynamic performances have also made her a standout player at renowned clubs in Europe and Asia, including FC Barcelona Femení and Dalian Quanjian.

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Looking Ahead

Oshoala’s retirement will mark the close of a historic chapter not only for Nigeria but for African women’s football as a whole. As she prepares for her final campaign with the national team, tributes continue to pour in from fans and sporting bodies across the globe, celebrating her extraordinary influence on and off the pitch.

Her announcement comes ahead of the upcoming WAFCON tournament, where she is expected to lead the Super Falcons in pursuit of another continental title before calling time on her stellar international career.