Uchenna Kanu Returns to Mexico, Seals Cruz Azul Women Move

Super Falcons forward Uchenna Kanu has completed a move back to the Mexican Liga MX Femenil, signing for Cruz Azul Women ahead of the Clausura 2026 season.

The 28 year old striker returns to familiar territory in Mexico after previously featuring in the league with Tigres UANL Women, where she enjoyed success and helped win the Liga MX title.

Kanu’s switch to Cruz Azul reinforces the growing presence of Nigerian stars in the Mexican women’s top flight. She joins compatriots such as Osinachi Ohale and Chinwendu Ihezuo — both currently at C.F. Pachuca Women underlining how Liga MX Femenil continues to attract African talent.

Across her career, Kanu has represented clubs in the United States (Pensacola FC and Racing Louisville FC), Spain (Sevilla FC) and Sweden (Linköping FC), giving her a wealth of experience to bring to Cruz Azul’s frontline.

The move marks Cruz Azul Women’s sixth signing of the transfer window and is viewed as a strategic addition as the club seeks to climb the Liga MX Femenil standings.

Editorial

In the shifting geometry of women’s football where ambition, opportunity and talent criss-cross continents with increasing fluidity — Uchenna Kanu’s return to Mexico is more than a transaction it is a signal of football’s evolving global ecosystem.

Kanu’s journey epitomises the itinerant career of a modern forward from Nigeria to the United States, Spain, Sweden, the United States again, and now back to Liga MX Femenil. Her move to Cruz Azul is, in sporting terms, a homecoming a return to a league where she previously thrived and won silverware. But it is also a testament to the rising stature of women’s football outside the traditional European and American power blocs.

Mexican football has become fertile ground for players who seek competitive matches, passionate crowds and a platform to refine their craft. As Liga MX Femenil grows in stature a league now attracting seasoned internationals from Africa and beyond Kanu’s presence adds both quality and narrative depth. Her résumé, rich with diverse experiences across continents, embodies the modern striker adaptable, worldly and seasoned by challenges that few young forwards shortcut.

Yet this move is not simply about individual accolades or goal tallies. It is about legacy. In joining Cruz Azul, Kanu reinforces a narrative of Nigerian excellence flourishing abroad bridging cultural divides and elevating the profile not just of Nigerian women’s footballers, but of the sport itself. In Liga MX Femenil’s vibrant tapestry of talent, her return is a reminder that football’s heartbeat is global, and its pulse grows stronger where stories like hers find resonance, context and stage.

Did You Know?

1. Historic Move in Liga MX Femenil  When Kanu first joined Tigres UANL in 2022, she became the first African player to play in Liga MX Femenil.
2. Impressive Domestic Scoring Record  During her first spell in Mexico with Tigres, Kanu scored 22 goals in 30 league appearances, helping her side to a league title.
3. NWSL Record Transfer Step  Kanu’s transfer from Tigres to Racing Louisville FC in 2023 involved a reported $150,000 fee plus incentives, one of the larger inter-league deals between Liga MX Femenil and the NWSL at the time.
4. Extensive International Career Kanu has been capped by the Super Falcons and featured in multiple age-group World Cups, including both the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups in 2014.
5. Growing Nigerian Presence in Mexico  Besides Kanu, Nigerian internationals including Osinachi Ohale and Chinwendu Ihezuo are also prominent figures in Liga MX Femenil, underscoring the league’s reputation as a platform for African talent.