Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or Award

Super Falcons and Barcelona Femeni striker, Asisat Oshoala, has been nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or Award in the Women’s Player of the Year category.

Last year Oshoala became the first African woman to get a nomination for the prestigious award, and remains the only African woman on this year’s shortlist.

Her nomination follows a remarkable  performance in the 2022/23 season in which she scored 29 goals and provided seven assists in 46 matches.

Oshoala’s stellar output in the season under review also played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s triumphant campaign, securing the Champions League title, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup.

She faces a stiff competition against fellow Barcelona Femeni stars, Mapi Leon, Aitana Bonmati, and Fridolina Rolfo, along with other standout talents from the women’s football world for the coveted award.

Spain's Aitana Bonmati, who led the Spanish women’s football team to their maiden World Cup glory in August and won the Golden Ball award in the process has also been nominated.

Bonmati looks the favourite for the prize, but she goes up against England's Milie Bright, Georgia Stanway and Rachel Daly.

Other nominees for the women's category are French stalwart Wendie Renard, England’s Mary Earps, prolific 26-year-old Jamaican and Manchester City Forward, Khadija Shaw, VFL Wolfsburg forward Alexandra Popp, Japanese midfielder Yui Hasegawa, Dutch midfielder Jill Roord, and England’s Rachael Daly.

“Our heartfelt congratulations to Asisat Oshoala for her outstanding achievements. It has been an incredible journey watching her grow and excel in the world of football. Plug Sports couldn’t be prouder of her remarkable talent and dedication. Asisat is a true inspiration, and her success is well-deserved,” Lanre Vigo, Head of Plug Sports, managers of the Oshoala, commented on her nomination.

Nigeria bcomes the first African country to have both men and women’s Ballon d’Or nominees in the same year as Victor Osimhen has also been nominated for the men's category.

Both players have had phenomenal years for club and country. Osimhen clinched the Serie A Golden Boot for the 2022-23 season, after leading Napoli to their first league title since 1990. At only 24-years-old, he is already climbing up Nigeria’s all-time top scorer ranks, 20 goals from the top, and only a few strikes away from second place.

Past winners of the Women’s Player of the Year category are Norwegian star Ada Hegerberg (2018), American forward Megan Rapinoe (2019) as well as Spain and Barcelona star Alexia Putellas, who won it twice in 2021 and 2022.

Nominated for the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or @AsisatOshoala @FCBfemeni @NGSuper_Falcons #ballondor pic.twitter.com/zpq2leUb45

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023

Here is the last part of the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or nominees...

🇫🇷 @WRenard

🇳🇬 @AsisatOshoala

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 @maryearps027

🇪🇸 @MapiLeon16

🇯🇲 Khadija Shaw #ballondor pic.twitter.com/z7Jq2LQw1D

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— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023