Nigerian female stars stole the show in Europe over the weekend, as Rinsola Babajide won another best player of the month award, while Super Falcons’ captain, Asisat Oshoala added to her goals tally for Barcelona Femeni of Spain with another strike on Saturday, megasportsarena.com reports.
While Babajide took to social media to express delight wither her emergence as best female player for the month of November, Oshoala hit the bull’s eye in Barca’s incredible 9-0 victory against visiting Santa Teresa in a Spanish Primera Iberdrola encounter at Estadi Johan Cruyff.
Having few hours earlier emerged as the only African in a 50-player shortlist for UEFA Women’s Team of The Year, the former FC Robo Queens of Lagos, Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt, Liverpool Ladies and Arsenal Women of England as well as Dalian Quanjian of China star was eager to add to her booty of two league goals.
She ended up getting her desires granted, though Barcelona’s gaffer, Lluis Cortes decided to start her as a substitute in what became her fifth appearance of the season, but she had earlier failed to score during her fourth start in a 5-1 win against Real Sociedad last month.
Oshoala had to watch on from the sidelines, as Jenni Hermoso opened scoring off an assist from Aitana Bonmati after just four minutes of the encounter, following which Ana Crnogorcevic then assisted Lieke Martens to double the lead for Barcelona six minutes later.
Hermoso then set up Martens for the third goal in the 16th minute, while Crnogorcevic and Martens combined well again In the 25th minute to score the fourth before Mariona Caldentey teed up Hermoso for her brace and fifth of the game three minutes later.
Martens then provided an assist for Hermoso to hit her third in the 34th minute before Marta Torrejon aided Hermoso for her fourth goal of the game 11 minutes later and Caldentey then got number eight for Barca just before half-time.
Cortes introduced Oshoala as a replacement for Caldentey early in the second half and Andrea Falcon provided the Falcons’ skipper with an assist that helped her add her name on the scorers’ cards eight minutes from time.
It took Oshoala’s tally to three goals in seven matches for Barcelona this term and the Ikorodu, Lagos-born lass, who struck 20 goals in 19 outings last season, helped The Catalans into buoyant mood ahead of their UEFA Women’s Champions League round of 32 clash with PSV Eindhoven of Holland on Wednesday.
Oshoala will also aim to continue in her renewed goals scoring form for Cortes’ team over the coming weekend, when they line out against Valencia in their next domestic encounter on Sunday and the entire team will seek to maintain the momentum achieved with Saturday’s mammoth victory at home.
In England, Babajide took to social media to celebrate her latest best player award, and the Nigerian-born England youth international did not forget to express her appreciation for all fans that gave her their votes in helping her go home with the diadem.
Babajide stated in her post: “Delighted to be named November’s @stanchart player of the month. Thank you to everyone that voted for me, it’s an honour.”
