Super Falcons of Nigeria and Barcelona forward player, Asisat Oshoala has become the first African woman to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or player of the year award after she was listed for the award on Friday.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that her performances with FC Barcelona femeni were the biggest factor that earned her a place on the 20-woman shortlist.
Recall that in July, Oshoala picked the African Women’s Player of the Year for the fifth time, breaking her own achievement and becoming the first lady to win the CAF award five times.
Her remarkable form which saw her produce 20 goals in 19 appearances saw her become the first African player to win the Pichichi ward in Spain despite being injured for a large part of the season (three months).
Read Also: CAF: Oshoala, Mane Claim African Player Of The Year Awards
She sustained an injury during Nigeria’s opening game against South Africa at the 2022 WAFCON which later saw the Super Falcons later going on to end the competition in fourth place.
Oshoala was nominated alongside 19 other players.
The other nominees for the 2022 Women’s Ballon d’Or are Selma Bacha, Fridolina Rolfo, Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr, Christiane Endler, Lena Oberdorf, Kadidiatou Diani, Catarina Macario, Alexia Putellas, Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmatí, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman and Ada Hegerberg.
Oshoala faces a strong list of great female footballers who have had excellent accomplishments in the year 2022.
The Super Falcons star is expected to lead Nigeria to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The 66th Ballon D’or ceremony will take place on the 17th of October at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
On the other hand, a 30-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or award was announced on Friday with PSG forward missing out on the shortlist for the first time since 2005.
Recall that Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, won the Ballon d’Or last year after beating the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Karim Benzema.
