Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala announces retirement

Nigerian football legend Asisat Oshoala has officially retired from international football, closing a remarkable chapter with the Super Falcons that lasted over 11 years and transformed African women’s football.

In a deeply personal message shared on Facebook, Oshoala revealed her intention to bow out after the Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024/25, saying it was time to make space for the next generation of female footballers.

“At 30, with six African Women’s Best Player awards, I will bow out to start a new chapter,” she wrote. “Thank you for your unwavering support.”

Oshoala burst onto the international scene in 2014 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball, establishing herself as a rising star. That same year, she clinched her first CAF Women’s Player of the Year award—an honour she’d go on to win five more times, solidifying her status as the most decorated female footballer in Africa.

Representing Nigeria, she featured in three FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019, 2023), numerous WAFCON tournaments, and the African Games. Her contributions were key in the Super Falcons’ championship wins in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

Oshoala also had a stellar club career, especially with Barcelona Femeni, where she claimed league titles and made history in 2019 as the first African female player to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final.

Her retirement signals the end of an era for Nigerian football. But even as she steps back, Oshoala’s influence and legacy will continue to inspire millions of young African girls dreaming of greatness on the global stage.