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Asisat Oshoala Breaks Records in Stellar NWSL Debut Season with Bay FC

Published by Tope Fakinlede on November 12th, 2024.

Asisat Oshoala Breaks Records in Stellar NWSL Debut Season with Bay FC

Asisat Oshoala continues to build her legacy, and her first season with Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has been nothing short of historic. The 30-year-old Nigerian striker has set multiple records, leaving an indelible mark in the league’s debut season for the Bay Area-based club.

Oshoala capped off her remarkable campaign on Sunday with a crucial goal in Bay FC’s NWSL playoff match against Washington Spirit. In a dramatic extra-time encounter at Audi Field, Washington, she gave Bay FC the lead in the 82nd minute, only for Washington to equalize minutes later and eventually win 2-1 through an own goal by Bay’s Caprice Dydasco. Despite the defeat, Oshoala’s performance stood out, as her goal in the playoff was her eighth of the season.

Bay FC, founded in April 2023 as one of the league’s expansion teams, made an impressive debut in the NWSL. After signing Oshoala in January following her departure from Barcelona, and securing Zambian forward Racheal Kundananji in a record-breaking transfer, the team finished 7th in the 14-team regular season standings, earning a spot in the playoff quarterfinals.

Oshoala’s impact was felt immediately, as she scored the club’s first-ever NWSL goal in a 1-0 victory over Angel City FC on March 18. Her 17th-minute strike also marked Bay FC’s first away goal in the league. Throughout the regular season, Oshoala was the team’s top scorer, netting seven goals and adding her eighth in the playoffs.

Despite Bay FC’s early playoff exit, Oshoala’s performance reinforced her status as Africa’s most prolific female striker of the last decade. Known for her technical skill, sharp positioning, and poise in front of goal, Oshoala’s success at Bay FC added to her already impressive career achievements.

The Ikorodu-born forward has a long history of success, starting with her domestic triumphs in Nigeria with Rivers Angels in 2013 and 2014, followed by multiple titles in Europe and Asia. Oshoala’s club career includes winning the FA Women’s Cup with Arsenal in 2016, two Chinese Women’s Super League titles with Dalian Quanjian (2017-2018), and an array of titles with FC Barcelona, including five Spanish Primera División titles, three UEFA Women’s Champions League titles, and four Copa de la Reina trophies.

On the international stage, Oshoala has been a key player for Nigeria, winning three Africa Women’s Cup of Nations titles (2014, 2016, and 2018) and playing a vital role in the team’s runner-up finish at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. With 105 goals in 156 club appearances, Oshoala has proven to be one of the most successful and influential players in women’s football, earning the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award a record six times.