VIDEO: Oshoala gifts ex-coach brand new car

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has gifted her former grassroots coach, Emmanuel Osahon Orobosa of FC Robo International, a brand new Toyota Highlander in appreciation of his role in her football career.

The club disclosed this in a statement on Thursday thanking the Nigerian international for remembering the people who contributed to her development, years after she rose to become one of Africa’s most decorated female footballers.

Orobosa, the founder, chairman and head coach of FC Robo International, was instrumental in nurturing Oshoala’s talent from her teenage years.

The club said he had supported her development since 2009, when she began attracting attention for her football abilities.

FC Robo described the presentation of the vehicle as a demonstration of gratitude, saying the gesture showed that the forward had not forgotten the people who helped shape her career.

“Your presentation of a Toyota Highlander to Coach Osahon is a beautiful demonstration of gratitude and a reminder that you have not forgotten the people who played important roles in your journey,” the club said.

The club recalled that Orobosa had been part of Oshoala’s development from her early days in football, providing guidance and an environment in which she could pursue her ambitions despite the challenges she faced.

According to the statement, the coach’s contribution to her journey began when she was still a teenager, long before she became an established name in international women’s football.

“Since your teenage days in 2009, when you began attracting attention with your football talent, Coach Osahon has been part of your growth, providing guidance, support and an environment to nurture your dreams.

“It is heartwarming to see that, years after rising to international prominence, you still recognise and appreciate the role he played in your early development,” the statement read.

FC Robo also recalled Oshoala’s previous support for the club, particularly her donation of a bus during her early years in Europe, describing the latest gift as another indication of her continued connection to her roots.

“This gesture also brings back memories of your earlier support for the club, particularly your donation of a bus during your early years in Europe.

“Such acts of kindness go beyond material value; they reflect loyalty, gratitude and a lasting connection to your roots,” it said.

The relationship between Oshoala and her former coach dates back to the period when she was struggling to secure her family’s approval to pursue football professionally.

Growing up in Lagos, the forward initially faced opposition from her parents, who wanted her to concentrate on her education rather than football. She often played with boys on the streets and sometimes had to avoid her parents to continue playing.

In an interview with BBC Sport in 2023, Oshoala revealed that her parents did not initially support her football ambitions and that her grandmother was the person who encouraged her.

“My parents didn’t want me to play sports at all and sometimes there were big fights at home. I had to run to my grandmother’s house to escape trouble,” she said.

Orobosa also played a role in helping her overcome the resistance, with the coach reportedly visiting her family to persuade her parents to allow her to pursue the sport.

Oshoala began her organised football career at FC Robo in 2009, aged 15, before moving to Rivers Angels in 2013.

Her performances in Nigeria earned her a move to English side Liverpool in 2015, making her one of the first Nigerian women to feature in the English top flight.

She subsequently played for Arsenal, Chinese side Dalian Quanjian and Spanish giants Barcelona, where she enjoyed one of the most successful spells of her career, winning several domestic titles and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

After leaving Barcelona, she joined United States side Bay FC in 2024 before moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in September 2025.

At international level, Oshoala has been a key member of the Super Falcons, representing Nigeria at multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups and Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

She has won the CAF African Women’s Player of the Year award six times, a record in the history of the award, and became the first African woman to score at three different editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Her latest gesture towards Orobosa adds to her previous contributions to the club that provided the platform for her professional career.