Asisat Oshoala, the only Nigerian who plays at FC Barcelona Femeni, tells the story of her life on Barcelona’s online website and shows several secrets about how to develop in a polygamous house, as a Muslim and how she plays football.
The lead spoke of herself in the Champions League team finals:
Read his story:
I need to communicate to you about some parts of my life that you may not know, now that we can, in spite of everything, reproduce after such a long break.
Ugh, the lockdown was complicated for me, because I lived alone for almost 4 months. I closed the house all the time and at first I got really scared because I didn’t need to get the virus. For two months, I only left the house to go to the supermarket, and as soon as I got home I threw all my clothes at the h! I also continued to exercise with all the uncertainty of not knowing what happens in La Liga and the Champions League.
Asisat Oshoala: when he joined Barcelona in January 2019
Asisat Oshoala: a combo tells a story
My parents are merchants. My circle of relatives is polygamous. I know it sounds very strange in Europe, but it’s general in my country. In a Muslim society, a man may have more than one wife. I think it’s quite natural, because that’s how it’s been for me. My father has two wives and one of them is my mom. I have seven brothers, two of my mother’s and four of my father’s other wife.
I am very active in social networks so I am in contact with my family. Since I’ve been alone here for a long time, I also use Twitter and Instagram to interact with other people and have fun. I like that.
I believe in God. I pray, but I don’t have my head covered. Just a few times or when I’m home. Clearly, I can’t wear a veil in my work. I also practice Ramadan. It was much less difficult this year as it was at the same time as the lock!
I went to a combined school for children and women, and that’s when I started playing football at recess and after school. I played to laugh on the streets of Lagos, basically on Sundays. And then I joined a women’s team in town. I was satisfied because I can play football every day. I’ll have to admit it caused a lot of arguments with my mother, but I made it. When I joined the Rivers Angels, he opened the doors to the national team and for the first time I knew I could continue to become a pro.
Five years ago, I created my own foundation, which necessarily encourages women to realize their dream of training professionals. We only paint with women because men have enough opportunities anyway. I communicate with them, I play with them and check to make them more confident and help them find a club. We helped about 5, 000 women. It’s my little chance to help the women of Lagos.
I think it’s hard for African women to play football and other sports in general. Many of them have the same upheavals as me when I was little as their parents don’t need them to play and there are many features for footballers. I tell them never to give up, keep fighting and believe in themselves. They love their football and play when they can. If you think strong enough, one day your dreams will come true.
That’s what happened to me. In 2012 I went to the U20 World Cup, as a defensive flyer, and when I came back in 2014, I became a striker. I am the most sensible goalscorer and MVP of this tournament and convinced me that I am smart enough to have a football career and play in other countries. The first England. Well, I did a test with Parus Saint-Germain before the U-20 World Cup, but my first European club, Liverpool, when I was only 20. I have won other offers, but since my only language is English, I chose this option.
It was a smart decision. I like Liverpool. And this coach believed in me and I was betting very well until I was injured. It was a wonderful pleasure and I joined Arsenal the following year. I was very young and the settings were difficult for me to handle, but I tried to adapt and be happy.
Then came the Chinese adventure here. My god! Dalian is a great position and my coach Farid Benstiti as a father to me. He’d known me since I had a lead at PSG, we communicated a lot and it strengthened my confidence. The language, the food, the position, the people, everything else in Europe, but I was pleased to have a European coach because none of the other players spoke English and needed a personal translator to communicate with them. But despite all this, it’s a smart experience.
The time has come when I have to go back to Europe. It was 2019 and there was the possibility of coming to Barca. I said yes. I have no idea twice. I looked here. From China, Barca was one of the most productive groups I have ever known and I sought to be part of this team. It was a magical moment to come here.
My first six months were more than difficult. It was a new environment and few people spoke English, and I joined half the season, so I had to adapt much faster than usual. But I also saw a lot of appealing things this semester, adding up the qualification for the Champions League Final. Hou the angels the angels the angels! I’ve never played a game like this before! I am proud to have scored Barca’s first goal in a European final, but I was also not happy with the result. We had opportunities, and they were all experiments, but we couldn’t do it.
We now have the challenge of the Champions League to come, unlike the most productive groups in Europe, and those are matches to a match in the Basque Country. We have to do our best. After competing at this festival last year, I know how competitive it is. I think the team can still go a long way. It will be difficult not to have played for six months, but the match with Atletico will be to watch.
Personally, I feel good. I’ve taken a step forward and I feel bigger in the team game. I scored goals in the preseason and everything’s fine.
Everyone knows me for my long hair and last year I changed my look. I cut my hair. If I see a color I like, I dye my hair. It’s orange right now, but next week it can be red, pink or yellow. Not for a specific reason, just because I like to replace.
Before I finish, I have to congratulate the entire circle of Barca relatives for winning the championship after so long without winning it. I hope you’ll join us all from home and see you back very soon at the stadium, and that we can celebrate the champion’s name together.
See the Barca!