From dusty pitches in Jos and Lagos to the dazzling lights of Stamford Bridge and the San Siro, Nigerian footballers have blazed a trail from local obscurity to global fame. Naija to the World is a weekly series that celebrates the incredible journeys of our football icons—stars who first made a name in the Nigerian Professional Football League or grassroots academies before catching the eye of European scouts.
For our fourth episode, we shine the spotlight on the remarkable women in Nigerian football, who have achieved great heights in European football, building on their success in home-based academies.
Asisat Oshoala – FC Robo & Rivers Angel
From humble beginnings in Lagos to dominating the biggest clubs on the grandest European stages, Asisat Oshoala has etched her legend in gold.
A trailblazer for female African players, her grandmother’s belief in her abilities spurred her ascent to greatness. She commenced her professional football career at FC Robo before moving to Rivers Angel. Her otherworldly talent shone brilliantly in Port Harcourt as it became clear she was an exceptional asset for the West African country. The young Asisat’s popularity across Nigeria increased as she played a prominent role in Rivers Angels’ 2014 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership triumph and their Nigerian Women’s Cup win.
Her global renown grew at the 2014 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup. Oshoala was exceptional as she clinched the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the tournament, leading The Falconets to a second-placed finish with a continental record seven goals. She led the Super Falcons to the 2014 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, clinching the Golden Ball and Silver Boot. The six-time African Female Footballer of the Year bagged her first African Women’s Player of the Year in 2014 at the age of 20.
With numerous European suitors battling for her signature, she opted to sign for Liverpool FC. She spent some time with the Merseyside Club before moving to Arsenal. A brief stint in the Chinese Super League ensued afterwards before she returned to Europe with FC Barcelona to certify her status as the greatest African player of her generation. Countless records were shattered as Agba Baller clinched several European titles, numerous league titles, a Ballon d’Or nomination, and found the net sporadically in the Spanish top flight. She founded the Asisat Oshoala Foundation to help young girls across Africa, and she remains a big inspiration to countless girls across the globe.
European Clubs
- Liverpool FC
- Arsenal FC
- FC Barcelona
Rasheedat Ajibade – FC Robo
The pride of FC Robo, Rasheedat Ajibade, has become a household name among football faithfuls in Nigeria. Clinical, pacey and deadly with a ball at her feet, Rasheedat takes no prisoners in front of goal. Rash, as she is fondly called, started her football career at FC Robo at a young age. She established herself as one of the best talents in the NWFL Premiership and on the African continent with the Mushin-based club. A teenager then, Rash starred brilliantly for FC Robo, finishing as NWPL top scorer and Player of the season in 2017.
She was also successful on the international scene, leading the Super Falcons to a third-place finish at the WAFU Women’s Cup and clinching the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, all in 2018. Subsequently, she earned herself a move to the Norwegian league in 2018 with Avaldsnes IL, and her talent shone brightly as she became one of the best players in the Norwegian league. Simply outstanding for the Norwegian league, Spanish Club Atletico Madrid swooped in for Rasheedat Ajibade’s signature, and the 2022 WAFCON Top Scorer has been on their books since 2021, cementing her status as one of the best African players of her generation in the Spanish Liga F.
European Clubs
- Avaldsnes IL
- Atletico Madrid
Chiamaka Nnadozie – Rivers Angels
Safe Hands, as she is fondly called, Chiamaka Nnadozie is a commanding presence between the goalposts and the best African goalkeeper in the world. She signed for Rivers Angels in her mid-teenage years in 2016 and became an instant hit with the club. She clinched three consecutive Nigerian Women’s Cup titles and helped the Port Harcourt-based club to one NWFL title, ending their league title drought.
A hot prospect in Nigerian football, she represented the national team at the youth and senior levels. She shone exceptionally with the U-20 team and earned a call-up to the senior side at 18. She was handed the goalkeeping berth at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and became the youngest ever goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a Women’s World Cup game, at the age of 18 years and 186 days.
Her spectacular performance helped the Super Falcons to their best World Cup finish in 20 years. After the World Cup, her goalkeeping heroics helped the Falconets win the African Games Gold medal. Chiamaka Nnadozie was named the IFFHS Africa’s Best Woman Goalkeeper at the end of the year.
In hot demand globally, Paris FC snapped up the services of the two-time CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award winner in 2020, and she has further solidified her status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She bagged both the UNFP Award and French D1 Arkema Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2024, alongside an inclusion in the Team of the Year. She helped the Parisian-based club to a historic Coupe de France Féminine title in 2025, saving two penalties superbly in the penalty shootout to deny PSG. She has recently secured a move to the English side, Brighton FC.
The Super Falcons’ Captain symbolizes African women’s football, shouldering her team’s destiny confidently, and at 24, the world is hers for the taking.
European Clubs
- Paris FC
- Brighton FC
Esther Sunday – Sunshine Queens & Pelican Stars
Nigerian winger Esther Sunday has had an illustrious career for club and country. Born in Lagos, she began her professional football career with Akure-based Sunshine Queens in the NWFL Premiership. She departed the Owena Marmaids for Pelican Stars F.C. and earned several suitors in Rivers State. Afterwards, she secured a move to Belarusian Premier League side FC Minsk and found success in Belarus, clinching three titles during her short stint with the club. Afterward, she moved to the Turkish top flight and made her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut in the 2017/2018 season with Konak Belediyespor. The two-time WAFCON winner spent most of her career in Turkey, clinching the Turkish Women’s First League title once.
European Clubs
- FC Minsk
- Trabzon İdmanocağı
- Konak Belediyespor
- Ataşehir Belediyespor
- Dijon FCO
- ALG Spor
- Stomil Olsztyn S.A.
- Rekord Bielsko-Biała
- Sportowa Czwórka Radom
Francisca Ordega – Bayelsa Queens & Rivers Angels
An absolute icon of Nigerian football, Francisca Ordega kick-started her journey to become a professional footballer with a spell at the youth levels for Bayelsa Queens before she was promoted to the senior side. She was inspired to pursue a professional career when she watched a women’s national team game live, as she was amazed by their ability to excel in a game typically associated with men.
She debuted professionally with The Restoration Girls in the NWFL Premiership in 2008, setting the tone for a stellar career. Her impressive form at the club level earned her an inclusion in the Nigerian female youth and senior teams. She lit up the 2010 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup with three goals in 4 games. She clinched the first of her four WAFCON titles in 2010 at 16. Her stay in Bayelsa culminated in a move to NWFL powerhouses Rivers Angels in 2011, winning the Nigerian Women’s Cup in 2012 with the club, her first trophy at the club level.
Having played a crucial role in helping the Falconets to a fourth-place finish at the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Francisca Ordega secured a move abroad, signing for Russian Women’s Football Champions Rossiyanka in 2012. She departed from the Russian side that same year and has journeyed around Europe since then. The climax of her club career came when Francisca Ordega clinched the Spanish top-flight title during her short loan stint with Atletico Madrid in the 2017/2018 season. Her versatility and technical abilities, combined with her goals, make her a valuable asset to her clubs.
European Clubs
- Rossiyanka
- Piteå IF
- Atlético Madrid
- Levante
- CSKA Moscow
