Asisat Oshoala Shines in 9–0 Victory for Al Hilal
Asisat Oshoala tore through the Saudi Women’s Premier League at the weekend, headlining a ruthless display from Nigerian stars across Europe and the Middle East.
Oshoala runs the show in 9–0 rout
Six-time African Player of the Year. New league. Same devastation.
Asisat Oshoala produced a staggering two goals and four assists as Al Hilal dismantled Al Ahli 9–0 to claim their first league win of the season in Saudi Arabia.
She dictated the contest from the opening whistle. In the fourth minute, the Super Falcons forward slipped in Manar Al-Anzi for the opener. Al Ahli never recovered.
The floodgates stayed open. Oshoala then turned provider for Al-Bandari Mubarak three times in a blistering 10-minute spell, laying on goals in the 20th, 22nd and 30th minutes as Al Hilal ran riot before the break.
Having spent the half carving open the defence, she joined the scoring herself in the 45th minute, striking just before half-time. After the interval, she completed her brace to round off a performance that underlined exactly why she has dominated the African women’s game for so long.
Fellow Nigerian Christy Ucheibe also featured in the emphatic victory as Al Hilal finally got their league campaign up and running in style.
Plumptre on target in Saudi showdown
In Jeddah, another Super Falcons standout made her mark.
Ashleigh Plumptre opened the scoring from the penalty spot as Al Ittihad defeated Al Nassr 4–2, a result that keeps Al Ittihad perfect with two wins from two in the league.
The defender’s cool finish from 12 yards set the tone for a statement result. Al Nassr pushed, but Al Ittihad held their nerve and their advantage to maintain early momentum in the title race.
Turkish-based Nigerians deliver late drama
The Nigerian influence stretched into Turkey, where key contributions shaped results at both ends of the table.
For Fenerbahçe, Suliat Abideen stepped off the bench and straight into the spotlight. Introduced in the 57th minute of their clash with Beşiktaş in the Turkish Women’s Super League, she put the game to bed late on.
With Fenerbahçe already in control, Abideen struck in the 84th minute to seal a 3–0 win, finishing off a move created by compatriot Regina Otu, who supplied the assist. The goal preserved Fenerbahçe’s perfect start to the season and underlined the growing Nigerian core at the club.
Kayseri KFK, though, needed every second of stoppage time.
Trailing 1–0 away to Yüksekovaspor after Princella Adubea’s 70th-minute opener for the hosts, they looked set for defeat. Then Ayatsea Hembafan intervened.
Deep into added time, in the fourth minute of stoppage, Hembafan struck a dramatic equaliser to snatch a 1–1 draw and salvage a point on the road.
From Oshoala’s masterclass in Riyadh to Hembafan’s rescue act in Turkey, Nigerian players didn’t just appear on team sheets this weekend — they bent games to their will.
