>
By Emmanuel Adeleke
Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, has been shortlisted for the 2022 women’s Ballon d’Or following her outstanding performance with Barcelona Femini in the Spanish League.
Oshoala netted 20 goals in 19 games to clinch the top scorer award with Geyse Ferreira who played for Madrid CFF last season, but now a teammate of Oshoala.
The 27-year-old’s game time was limited last season due to injury but showed her quality in front of goal whenever she is on the pitch.
The other Ballon d’Or nominees are Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG); Millie Bright (Chelsea); Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit); Ada Hegerberg (Lyon); Selma Bacha (Lyon); Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona); Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal); Lucy Bronze (Barcelona); Sam Kerr (Chelsea); Christiane Endler (Lyon); Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg); Kadidatou Diani (PSG); Catarina Macario (Lyon); Alexia Putellas (Barcelona); Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg); Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona); Wendie Renard (Lyon); Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave); and Beth Mead (Arsenal).
Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg won the maiden women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018 while United States Women’s national team star Megan Rapinoe won the honours in 2019. 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The award resumed last year with Oshoala’s teammate in Barcelona, Putellas becoming the third female player to win the prize.
The Ballon d’Or 2022 ceremony will take place on October 17, 2022, at the Theatre du Chatelet, in Paris.
Oshoala was named the African Player of the Year for a record fifth time in Morocco last month, adding to her previous wins in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019.