Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has announced her retirement from international football with Nigeria’s Super Falcons, bringing an end to a celebrated career that spanned over a decade.
The six-time African Player of the Year made the announcement in a heartfelt Facebook post on Monday, stating that stepping aside was necessary to allow the next generation of talents to shine on the global stage.
“At 30, with six African Women’s Best Player awards, I will bow out to start a new chapter after WAFCON 2024/25,” she wrote.
“Thank you for your unwavering support. I’m forever grateful for the love and sacrifices shared with me through this journey.”
Oshoala, who made her debut for the Super Falcons in 2013 at the age of 18, quickly rose to become one of the team’s most iconic figures.
She shot to fame during the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball after leading Nigeria to the final.
That same year, she earned her first African Women’s Player of the Year award.
Over the course of her international career, Oshoala represented Nigeria in three FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019, and 2023), multiple Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournaments and the 2015 African Games.
She was instrumental in Nigeria’s victories at the WAFCON in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
The 30-year-old football star retires as the most decorated female footballer in Africa, having won the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award a record six times, in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
Beyond her success in national colours, the Lagos-born forward had a glittering club career, most notably with Spanish giants Barcelona Femeni.
During her time at the club, she won several league titles and became the first African woman to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2019.
Her retirement from international duty comes just months before the 2024/25 Africa Women Cup of Nations, where she hinted she would make her final appearance for Nigeria.
