Asisat Oshoala yet again showed her class as she fired in a hat-trick to guide Al Hilal Women to a 5-1 victory over Al Qadsiah Women in the semi-final of the Saudi Women’s Cup. The result ensured a 7-2 aggregate win and confirmed Al Hilal’s place in the final, where they are set to play either Al Nassr Women or Al Ula Women. Oshoala has been sensational for Al Hilal this season, and Thursday’s game proved to be another instance of her brilliance that once again highlights the fact that she is indeed one of the most influential forwards in women’s football.
Oshoala’s Impact
The six-time African Player of the Year was the star of the show and had a hand in all five of Al Hilal Women’s goals. She scored two first-half goals before completing her hat-trick in the second half as she also earned a late penalty to round off a convincing display.
Her statistics for this season speak volumes. She has now scored 23 goals and provided six assists for Al Hilal this season across all competitions. She has now scored in four straight games and has been directly involved in at least one goal in her last six games, a form that she replicates from her time in Europe.
The Match
Al Hilal Women traveled to face Al Qadsiah Women with a 2-1 advantage from the first-leg match in Riyadh. The women in blue seemed to be more aggressive from the start and went on to dominate the match.
– (36′) Oshoala opened the scoring with a powerful shot with her right foot from outside the box after being teed up by compatriot Kheira Hamraoui.
– (38′) Al Hilal doubled their lead through Jssica Silva as she latched on to a through ball from Al Bandari Mobarak during a swift counter-attack.
– (42′) Ajara Nchout reduced the deficit, giving the visitors a lifeline for a few moments.
– (44′) Oshoala extended Al Hilal’s lead right before half-time to give them the advantage of a two-goal buffer heading into the break.
– (73′) The Nigerian international sealed her hat-trick as she finished expertly from the left side of the box on the back of a smart through ball from Mobarak.
– (89′) Oshoala earned a late penalty after being brought down in the area, and Ghizlane Chebbak coolly converted from 12 yards to add the cherry on top.
While Oshoala was the standout player, it was the collective attacking power of Al Hilal Women that blew their opponents away.
Season Form
Since joining Al Hilal in the summer of 2025 from NWSL club Bay FC, the prolific striker has continued her impressive goalscoring form. It is fair to say she has adapted to life in Saudi Arabia remarkably well and is showcasing the same kind of goal-scoring ability that made her a star in Spain, England, and China. The six-time African champion helped her new club to finish as runners-up in the Saudi Women’s Premier Challenge Cup earlier this season, where she registered a couple of hat-tricks in the competition, as Al Hilal Women made their way to the final before losing to eternal rivals Al Nassr. She has now been instrumental in guiding them to another final, and the team will have high hopes of winning the trophy.
Team Dynamics
Al Hilal Women are a blend of experienced internationals and local talents, and Oshoala is the driving force behind their formidable attack. With players such as Kheira Hamraoui, Jssica Silva, and Al Bandari Mobarak, her movement has linked them together to form a fluid unit that is hard to break down and looks like the most dangerous front-line in Saudi Arabia this season. The way they responded after conceding an equalizer at the death in their first leg tie against Al Qadsiah and the speed at which they respond, even when in defensive positions, have shown the mental strength in the team. Oshoala’s leadership at the front is an inspiration to her teammates, who know that if there is a goal to be scored, Oshoala can find a way.
Opponents and Next Challenge
Al Hilal Women will meet the winner of the Al Ula Women’s game against Al Nassr Women in the final. Both teams are strong sides and could provide tough opposition, but Al Hilal Women, led by Oshoala’s scintillating form, would go into the final as strong favourites.
It’s a final that presents a great opportunity for Al Hilal Women to win a major trophy after narrowly missing out on the Premier Challenge Cup trophy to rivals Al Nassr Women earlier in the campaign. For Asisat Oshoala, it’s another chance to cap off her first season in Saudi Arabia by lifting another title and continuing to cement her legacy as one of the world’s top female footballers and a trailblazer in the women’s game in a new region.
Oshoala’s impact on the game
Oshoala may score the goals, but that only captures a portion of her contribution on the field of play. Her hold-up play is brilliant, drawing defenders into her orbit to open up space for others, while her intelligent pressing creates a number of turnovers in dangerous attacking situations. The fact that she also wins penalties – something that had a huge impact on this game – makes for one truly all-round individual.
For women’s football in Saudi Arabia, she is a giant who would raise the profile of any women’s football league and can spark growth and attention in the league worldwide. She is quite simply one of the most decorated, inspirational women’s footballers on the planet, giving hope to a whole generation of young African and Middle Eastern girls who dream of emulating her success.
Career history and impact
Oshoala has had a fantastic career to date, enjoying success at the highest level in two different continents: From her formative years, from her performances in Nigeria, to spells in England with Arsenal, in China, and finally in Spain, where she won the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Oshoala has proven time and again that she belongs on a world stage. Moving to the Saudi Women’s League, she moved to uncharted territory, and she has put all doubts surrounding her signing for Al Hilal to bed with the immediate and consistent performances that she has delivered.
Her consistency at this level of football in Europe and across the world has been replicated in a new and growing league, which may be attributed to her sheer adaptability and professionalism. So far this season, she has provided a goal or an assist for each goal that Al Hilal Women have scored, and her 23 goals and 6 assists this season set her in a new bracket in Saudi Arabia.
Asisat Oshoala’s hat-trick in the Saudi Women’s Cup semi-final against Al Qadsiah was another masterful display that underlined her status as the driving force behind Al Hilal Women’s charge this season. With 23 goals to her name and a string of game-winning performances, she has consistently carried her team and fired them into a second consecutive final appearance.
