Super Falcons captain and Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala, was named as one of fifty nominees for UEFA Fans’ Women’s Team of the Year’ for 2020 in a list released on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old who became the first African to score in the Women’s Champions League final last season, is the only African on the list.
Oshoala has scored two goals in six league appearances for Barcelona this season.
Europe’s football governing body said the shortlist of five goalkeepers, 15 defenders, 15 midfielders and 15 forwards was selected on the basis of their performances in UEFA competitions and domestic competitions within UEFA member associations from January to December 2020.
The former Arsenal forward is one of eight Barcelona players on the list and will be competing with fellow forwards Caroline Graham Hansen and Jenni Hermoso for a spot in the forward positions.
Explaining the rationale behind her selection, UEFA said of Oshoala: “Powerful and sometimes unplayable forward with an unerring eye for goal.
“Free-scoring in Barcelona’s title win, either up front on own or partnered with Jenni Hermoso. Another UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final, a year after scoring in final.”
UEFA Women’s Champions League winners Lyon have the most players represented with 13 of their finals squad nominated, two more than runners-up Wolfsburg while Chelsea have six and Arsenal and Paris St-Germain have five players apiece.
The final eleven will be selected by fans through an online voting process that ends on 6 January.
The Nominees
Goalkeepers: Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon & France), Christiane Endler (Paris Saint-Germain & Chile), Hedvig Lindahl (Wolfsburg/Atlético & Sweden), Sandra Paños (Barcelona & Spain), Sari van Veenendaal (Atlético/PSV Eindhoven & Netherlands)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Lyon/Manchester City & England), Kadeisha Buchanan (Lyon & Canada), Paulina Dudek (Paris Saint-Germain & Poland), Kathrin Hendrich (Bayern/Wolfsburg & Germany), Magdelena Eriksson (Chelsea & Sweden), Steph Houghton (Manchester City & England), Dominique Janssen (Wolfsburg & Netherlands), Sakina Karchaoui (Montpellier/Lyon & France), Mapi León (Barcelona & Spain), Maren Mjelde (Chelsea & Norway), Lena Oberdorf (Essen/Wolfsburg & Germany), Irene Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain & France), Wendie Renard (Lyon & France), Marta Torrejón (Barcelona & Spain), Leah Williamson (Arsenal & England)
Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea & England), Daniëlle van de Donk (Arsenal & Netherlands), Ingrid Engen (Wolfsburg & Norway), Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (Wolfsburg/Lyon & Iceland), Kheira Hamraoui (Barcelona & France), Amandine Henry (Lyon & France), Svenja Huth (Wolfsburg & Germany), Ji So-yun (Chelsea & South Korea), Saki Kumagai (Chelsea & Japan), Kim Little (Arsenal & Scotland), Lina Magull (Bayern & Germany), Amel Majri (Lyon & France), Dzsenifer Marozsán (Lyon & Germany), Alex Popp (Wolfsburg & Germany), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona & Spain)
Forwards: Delphine Cascarino (Lyon & France), Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain & France), Beth England (Chelsea & England), Cristiana Girelli (Juventus & Italy), Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona & Norway), Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg/Chelsea & Denmark), Jenni Hermoso (Barcelona & Spain), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (Paris Saint-Germain & France), Eugénie Le Sommer (Lyon & France), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal & Netherlands), Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona & Nigeria), Ewa Pajor (Wolfsburg & Poland), Nikita Parris (Lyon & England), Fridolina Rolfö (Wolfsburg & Sweden), Jill Roord (Netherlands & Arsenal)
