WUCL: Nigeria Striker Makes History As First African To Win Golden Boot

WUCL: Nigeria Striker Makes History As First African To Win Golden Boot

By Sampson Adedeji

Little known Nigerian striker Emuidzhi Oghiabekhva has made history after becoming the first African to win the golden boot in the Uefa Women’s Champions League following her incredible play for Belarusian club Minsk.

The 30-year-old netted 10 goals in seven Champions League outings for Minsk in the 2019/20 season to share the golden boot.

To achieve the feat, Oghiabekhva netted six goals in the qualifying rounds before adding four in the main tournament as Minsk were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Spanish side, Barcelona.

She will have to share the prize, however, with Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema and Breidablik's Berglind Bjorg Borvaldsdottir notching the same tally during the recently concluded European competition, which was won by Lyon on August 30.

Her appearance in the 2019/20 Champions League marked her fourth outing with Minsk and eighth since 2009, having previously represented Rossiyanka twice, Energiya Voronezh, and BIIK Kazygurt once.

Her latest feat summed up her remarkable year in 2019 as she netted 29 goals in 17 league outings for Minsk, totalling 44 goals in all competitions, including five in the Belarusian Women's Cup.

The talented striker inspired Minsk to a domestic treble in 2019, including the Women's FA Cup and Super Cup, and saw her being crowned the Belarusian Women's League Best Player of the Year.

Oghiabekhva has continued her rich run of form this season, scoring 17 goals in 11 outings in all competitions before an injury forced her to part ways with Minsk in August.