Two of Nigeria’s leading sportswomen, Asisat Oshoala and Blessing Okagbare, were a year older on Monday.
While the football star clocked 23, Okagbare raced her way by an extra six years.
But as unlikely as it may seem, these two sports divas have a whole lot in common aside their birthdays.
Here are four:
- African champions
In different times, Oshoala and Okagbare have ruled the continent. Oshoala, now on the payroll of Chinese club Dalian Quanjian, was part of the Super Falcons team that clinched back-to-back Africa Women’s Championship. Okagbare, on the other hand, has scooped five gold medals at African Championship and an extra three at the All-Africa Games.
- First love is football
Oshoala may be Nigeria’s queen of the pitch, but that title might have been Okagbare’s had she chased a career in the round leather game. That’s due to the fact that the 29-year-old preferred soccer before switching to athletics around 2004.
- International honours for Nigeria
Oshoala and Okagbare have both done the nation proud at various international events. While the former has done so just once at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, her compatriot has been up there on numerous occasions. But the climax was silver medal for long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Dashing pace
Another striking similarity common with both ladies is their sheer pace. Oshoala is renowned for dashing past defenders with ease. More so Okagbare, who for many years, held the record as Africa’s fastest woman.
