Chiamaka Cristabel Okwuchukwu (born 7 August 2005) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She has represented Nigeria at the youth international level.

Chiamaka Okwuchukwu
Personal information
Full name Chiamaka Cristabel Okwuchukwu[1]
Date of birth (2005-08-07) 7 August 2005 (age 19)
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
San Diego Wave
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Rivers Angels
2025– San Diego Wave 0 (0)
International career
2022–2024 Nigeria U-20 8+ (2+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 September 2024

Club career

edit

Okwuchukwu was the seventh of eight children growing up in the town of Njaba.[2] She eventually joined seven-time NWFL Premiership champions Rivers Angels.[2]

On 13 January 2025, the NWSL's San Diego Wave FC announced that they had signed Okwuchukwu on a one-year contract, transferring her for an undisclosed fee from Rivers Angels.[3]

International career

edit

Okwuchukwu played in all four games (two starts) for Nigeria at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup at age 16, helping them top their group before falling to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.[3][4] The following cycle, appeared in all four games (three starts) at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, recording two goals and one assist during the group stage; she scored and had a goal called offside in a 3–1 loss to Germany and assisted and scored the first two goals in a 4–0 win against Venezuela.[5][4] When she scored against Germany, she emulated the celebration of her idol Cristiano Ronaldo.[5][6] Nigeria finished second in their group and lost to eventual finalists Japan in the first knockout round.[4] For her performance, Okwuchukwu was one of three finalists for CAF Youth Women's Player of the Year in 2024,[7] losing to Morocco's Doha El Madani.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Squad List: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Chiamaka Okwuchukwu: My talent is a gift". FIFA. September 11, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "San Diego Wave FC Signs Forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu". San Diego Wave FC. January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Chiamaka Okwuchukwu at Soccerway  
  5. ^ a b "Okwuchukwu Shines Despite Falconets' Defeat to Germany in U-20 Women's W'Cup". This Day. September 6, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  6. ^ Oyebola, Mike (September 12, 2024). "Colombia 2024: Falconets star, Okwuchukwu wants handshake with Cristiano Ronaldo". Daily Post. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  7. ^ Oyebola, Mike (December 12, 2024). "CAF Awards 2024: Okwuchukwu makes final shortlist for women's young POTY". Daily Post. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  8. ^ Benkiran, Rabei. "CAF Awards 2024: Trois Marocaines nommées dans la catégorie "Joueuse interclubs de l'année"". L'Opinion Maroc (in French). Retrieved November 23, 2024.
edit