Former Arsenal forward, Asisat Oshoala, was named African Women’s Player of the Year 2019 on Tuesday night with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing out to Liverpool’s Sadio Mane in the men’s category.

Asisat Oshoala 2

Oshoala arrived at Arsenal in 2016 with a big reputation but was unable to adapt to the game in England.

She was sold to Chinese side, Dalian Quanjian, a year later where she earned great money before heading back to Europe to join Barcelona.

During her time at Arsenal, Oshoala was criticised for not working hard enough to the point we even named her as one of the worst signings in the last decade.

https://twitter.com/CAF_Online/status/1214642368231727104

But it seems the 25-year-old has addressed many of the problems that seemed to restrict her during her time at England and is finally fulfilling the huge potential than convinced Arsenal to sign her in the first place.

In the men’s award, there was no surprise as Sadio Mane picked up the trophy and Arsenal’s Aubameyang did not.

Senegal winger Sadio Mane smiles after winning the Player of the Year award during the 2019 CAF Awards in the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on January 7, 2020. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Senegal winger Sadio Mane smiles after winning the Player of the Year award during the 2019 CAF Awards in the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on January 7, 2020. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

“I’m really happy and proud to win this. Football is my job, I love it,” said Mane.

“I would like to thank my family, my national team, staff, the federation and Liverpool Football Club. It’s a big day for me.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7CR0GVH1dp/?utm_source=ig_embed

https://twitter.com/CAF_Online/status/1214635659467640838

Aubameyang did, however, make the best African XI of the year:

African best XI: Andre Onana (Ajax/Cameroon), Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund/Morocco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli/Senegal), Joel Matip (Liverpool/Cameroon), Serge Aurier (Tottenham/Ivory Coast), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City/Algeria), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Paris St-Germain/Senegal), Hakim Ziyech (Ajax/Morocco), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt), Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Senegal), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal/Gabon).

French coach Arsene Wenger (L) presents the Goal of the Year award to Kheiredine Zetchi, president of the Algerian Football Federation, during the 2019 CAF Awards in the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on January 7, 2020. - Riyad Mahrez's free kick in the 2019 African Cup of Nations semi-finals was named as Goal of the Year during the 2019 CAF Awards. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)
French coach Arsene Wenger (L) presents the Goal of the Year award to Kheiredine Zetchi, president of the Algerian Football Federation, during the 2019 CAF Awards in the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada on January 7, 2020. – Riyad Mahrez’s free kick in the 2019 African Cup of Nations semi-finals was named as Goal of the Year during the 2019 CAF Awards. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) 

Arsene Wenger was also present at the event, handing out the award for Goal of the Year to Kheiredine Zetchi, president of the Algerian Football Federation for Riyad Mahrez’s free kick in the 2019 African Cup of Nations semi-finals.

https://youtu.be/7izR5Wx40vs?t=93

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR