Oshoala: Not so super 2015 for ‘Superzee’

Asisat Oshoala took the Nigerian football scene by storm in 2014, with the Falconets and the senior national team.

Superzee – as she is known by friends and colleagues – helped Falconets to the final of the 2014 U-20 world youth championship in Canada where she emerged top scorer and MVP, and also contributed to the success of the Super Falcons.

Oshoala’s goal in the final against Cameroon secured Nigeria’s 9th AWC title in Namibia.

The super performance of 2014 contributed to her Liverpool ladies move in January of 2015.

Considered “one of the best young players in the world” by former Liverpool manager, Matt Beard, Oshoala was unable to replicate the success of last year.

Voted winner of the BBC Women Footballer of the year award in May, Oshoala did not impress at the world cup where she only managed to score one goal in three matches.

Nigeria lost out in the group stage, losing two games and getting just a point.

Oshoala’s poor form replicated at club level, where she scored only three goals in 12 appearances – nine behind the team’s top scorer, Natasha Dowie.

The team exited the champions league in the round of 32 stages with a home loss to Brescia, a game in which Oshoala’s goal was disallowed after the referee cited a foul play by the Nigerian.

The African Women footballer of the year 2014 was left out by CAF in the 2015 nominees for the award.

Though wrecked by injury for most of the season, Oshoala has said that she will be back in January of 2015 and she hopes of performing better for both club and country.

“I shall be back in January after regaining fitness. Hopefully this time, I’ll do it my way,” Oshoala said.