Asisat Oshoala tore through the Saudi Women’s Premier League at the weekend, headlining a dominant set of performances from Nigerian players across the Middle East and Europe.
Oshoala runs riot in 9–0 demolition
Six-time African Player of the Year. New club. Same ruthless edge.
Asisat Oshoala produced a devastating display for Al Hilal, scoring twice and laying on four assists in a 9–0 humiliation of Al Ahli, as the Riyadh side claimed their first league win of the season in emphatic fashion.
From the opening minutes, Al Ahli simply could not live with her movement or her vision. Oshoala slipped in Manar Al-Anzi for the opener in the fourth minute, setting the tone for what quickly became a one-sided contest.
The Super Falcons star then turned provider again and again, feeding Al-Bandari Mubarak for a flurry of first-half goals in the 20th, 22nd and 30th minutes. Each assist carried a different flavour: clever positioning, sharp passing, and an understanding with her teammates that looked anything but new.
By the time she got on the scoresheet herself in the 45th minute, it felt inevitable. Oshoala rounded off her first-half masterclass with a cool finish, then returned after the break to complete her brace and seal one of the most dominant individual performances of the young season.
Fellow Nigerian Christy Ucheibe also featured for Al Hilal, adding steel and balance in midfield as the club finally put three points on the board in style.
Plumptre strikes as Al Ittihad edge Al Nassr
In Jeddah, another Super Falcon made her mark.
Ashleigh Plumptre, now firmly settled at Al Ittihad, opened the scoring from the penalty spot in a 4–2 victory over Al Nassr, guiding her side to a second win in as many league games.
The defender’s composure from twelve yards set the tone for a statement result. Al Ittihad absorbed pressure, hit back with purpose, and showed the kind of resilience that suggests their perfect start is no accident.
Two games, two wins. Plumptre already looks central to that momentum.
Nigerian impact in Turkey: goals, drama, and late rescue acts
The weekend belonged to Nigerian forwards in Turkey as well.
In the Turkish Women’s Super League, Suliat Abideen stepped off the bench and straight into the spotlight for Fenerbahçe. Introduced in the 57th minute of a high-stakes clash with rivals Beşiktaş, she added the gloss in a 3–0 victory.
Her moment came in the 84th minute. Timing her run smartly, Abideen met a pass from compatriot Regina Otu and buried Fenerbahçe’s third, a goal that underlined both her impact and the team’s authority. The win kept Fenerbahçe’s record perfect and their title intentions unmistakable.
Elsewhere, Ayatsea Hembafan delivered late drama for Kayseri KFK.
Trailing 1–0 away to Yüksekovaspor after Princella Adubea’s 70th-minute strike, Kayseri looked set for defeat. The clock ticked into stoppage time, nerves frayed, and the home side edged closer to victory.
Hembafan had other ideas.
Deep into added time, in the fourth minute beyond the 90, she struck a stoppage-time equaliser that salvaged a 1–1 draw and a precious point on the road. One swing of her boot turned frustration into relief and kept Kayseri in the fight.
From Riyadh to Jeddah, Istanbul to Kayseri, Nigerian players didn’t just feature this weekend. They dictated games, decided results, and left a clear message: wherever the league, they are shaping the storylines.
