Okafor Opts for Nigeria Over Malawi Ahead of Morocco Debut

Chioma Okafor, the 21 year old striker playing with the University of Connecticut in the United States, has chosen to commit her international future to Nigeria’s Super Falcons instead of Malawi’s Scorchers. Born in Malawi to a Nigerian father and Malawian mother, Okafor had earlier featured in training with Malawi in 2015 and was invited to represent them in February 2025 but academic commitments prevented her attendance.

Her mother, Patricia Okafor, explained how Nigeria’s overtures sealed the deal. Unlike Malawi, the Nigerian Football Federation acted quickly sending an official letter, inquiring about her eligibility, and facilitating her passport application in Atlanta. “They told her to go to Atlanta, she went there and made the passport for her, so you can see how serious they are,” Patricia revealed.

Chioma’s choice, Patricia emphasised, was entirely her own. “Nigeria wrote a letter… it was her choice, I told her to choose so that she would not regret it,” she said. Despite being celebrated in Malawi, Okafor followed her heart in selecting Nigeria.

Now named in Nigeria’s 24-player squad for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Okafor is expected to make her debut ahead of Nigeria’s opening match against Tunisia on 6 July, potentially featuring in a warm-up friendly against Ghana.

Editorial

We applaud Chioma Okafor’s decision as one made with clarity and conviction. Amid dual-national allegiance, her choice reflects a thoughtful weighing of opportunity and emotional connection.

We note that the Nigeria Football Federation’s decisiveness played a key role. Their proactive engagement achieving swift passport formalities and arranging national team inclusion contrasts sharply with Malawi’s slower approach and underscores Nigeria’s intent to cultivate emerging talent.

We insist that true athlete autonomy must guide dual-national decisions. Patricia Okafor’s support urging her daughter to choose what would bring happiness exemplifies how families can empower players to chart their own paths. We believe Okafor’s commitment represents a strategic gain for the Super Falcons. As Nigeria seeks to reclaim continental dominance at WAFCON 2025, fresh attacking options like her promise depth and dynamism.

We hold firm that this moment signals more than just a debut; it reflects Nigeria’s ambition and talent pipeline in action. With Chioma Okafor now in green and white, the federation’s forward-thinking approach is paying dividends.

Did You Know?

1. Chioma Okafor was born in Malawi but raised in the United States while representing the University of Connecticut Huskies.
2. She first trained with Malawi’s national team in 2015 but never played in an official match for the Scorchers.
3. Online scrutiny over her name led her mother to encourage her to post a video affirming her Malawian birth, countering doubts about her identity.
4. Nigeria dispatched official correspondence and arranged her passport in Atlanta within weeks demonstrating urgency in securing her eligibility.
5. Malawi had invited her to a friendly against Zambia in February 2025, but she couldn’t attend due to college commitments.