TheCable

Asisat Oshoala, Arsenal and Super Falcons striker, says she’d prefer to win the African Women’s Cup of Nations trophy over the top scorer award.

The consistent goal poacher who scored a double-brace in the 6-0 thrashing of Mali told TheCable that it would be meaningless if she ends up winning the individual award and the team fails to successfully defend the trophy.

“I’ll prefer winning the trophy and not win anything personally. The trophy is the most important thing to me.

“It’s not about the goals. I was just lucky to be in good position in the game against Mali on Sunday‎ and lucky to get my chances in as well.

“It might be another of my team mate’s turn in the next game. It might be a defender or a midfielder. It could be anybody.

“We have a lot of good players, a lot of good strikers in the team who can do much better than I can. So, it’s about the team winning and not about personal accolades or laurels.

“It’ll only be a plus for me after we might have won the trophy. Because without the trophy and you get the highest goal scorer award or the MVP award, it does not sound all right to me.”

Asked if she was working towards becoming the best ever female striker in Nigeria’s history, Oshoala said: “Well, in football you really can’t predict what will happen tomorrow.”

“About scoring goals, it’s something that comes naturally‎ because it’s not something you go to the game and plan.

“You’ll love to get goals as an attacker or striker but for me, it’s basically a team win for me first. If I get any chance to score goals, I can get it in.

“It’s not about been a top scorer for Nigeria, to me it’s the impact you make during your playing days that matters,” Oshoala told TheCable.

“As an individual, I can’t say I have a personal goal or personal target. Every time I step on the pitch for Nigeria, I find it as a privilege and ready to give my best and not about setting records,” she added.

Oshoala has scored 16 goals in 18 games in international football.