Asisat Oshoala Dominates Saudi Women’s Premier League with 9–0 Victory
Asisat Oshoala turned the Saudi Women’s Premier League into her personal stage at the weekend, headlining a dominant round of performances from Nigerian players abroad.
Oshoala runs the show in 9–0 demolition
Six-time African Player of the Year Oshoala produced a ruthless masterclass as Al Hilal dismantled Al Ahli 9–0, driving her side to their first league win of the season with two goals and four assists.
From the opening minutes, she dictated everything.
In the fourth minute, she slipped in Manar Al-Anzi for the opener, setting the tone for a one-sided contest. The Al Ahli defence never recovered. Oshoala repeatedly found space, repeatedly found teammates, and repeatedly punished slack marking.
She teed up Al-Bandari Mubarak three times in quick succession, laying on goals in the 20th, 22nd and 30th minutes as Al Hilal ran riot before the break. Every time she got on the ball in the final third, Al Ahli looked exposed.
Then she joined the scoring herself.
On the stroke of half-time, Oshoala made it 5–0, capping a devastating 45 minutes in which she had a direct hand in almost everything Al Hilal created. After the restart, she added her second to complete a brace and underline the gulf between the sides on the day.
Fellow Nigerian Christy Ucheibe also featured in the rout, as Al Hilal finally got their season up and running in emphatic fashion.
Plumptre strikes as Al Ittihad stay perfect
In Jeddah, another Super Falcons star left her mark.
Ashleigh Plumptre opened the scoring for Al Ittihad in a 4–2 victory over Al Nassr, calmly converting from the penalty spot. Her early goal set Al Ittihad on their way to a second win from two, a statement start in a league that is quickly filling up with Nigerian influence.
While Oshoala grabbed the headlines with her numbers, Plumptre’s contribution carried its own weight: a defender stepping up at a key moment, setting the platform for a result that keeps Al Ittihad’s momentum intact.
Turkish stage, Nigerian impact
The theme continued in Turkey, where Suliat Abideen and Regina Otu combined to keep Fenerbahçe’s perfect record alive in the Turkish Women’s Super League.
Abideen came off the bench in the 57th minute with Fenerbahçe already in control against Beşiktaş. She added the final flourish in the 84th minute, finishing off a move created by compatriot Otu to seal a 3–0 win.
It was a short cameo, but a sharp one. One Nigerian creating, another finishing, and Fenerbahçe marching on without dropping a point.
Late drama for Hembafan in Kayseri
Not every story was about dominance. Some were about resilience.
Away to Yüksekovaspor, Kayseri KFK looked beaten after Princella Adubea put the hosts ahead in the 70th minute. Time drained away, pressure rose, and the game slipped towards defeat.
Ayatsea Hembafan refused to accept it.
Deep into stoppage time, in the fourth added minute, she struck the equaliser that salvaged a 1–1 draw. One chance, one finish, one vital point on the road.
From Saudi Arabia to Turkey, the pattern was unmistakable: Nigerians deciding games, shaping scorelines, and dragging their teams over the line. And with performances like these so early in the campaign, the real question is how much louder their influence will grow as the season wears on.
