Last Thursday, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) confirmed that USA-based women’s footballer Chioma Okafor has opted to represent Nigeria’s Super Falcons after consultations with her parents.
The 21-year-old, who has a Nigerian father and Malawian mother, plays for the University of Connecticut and has been named in Nigeria’s final 24-member squad for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which kicks off on July 5 in Morocco.
Earlier this year, Malawi’s women’s national team coach Lovemore Fazili had invited Okafor to join the Scorchers’ training camp ahead of a friendly match against Zambia, but she did not attend.
Speaking to BolaNews, Chioma’s mother, Patricia Jiya Okafor, shared insights into her daughter’s decision.
Why did you advise Chioma to settle for Nigeria?
“It’s not me, it was her choice. Nigeria wrote a letter, I didn’t have any say, it was her choice, I told her to choose so that she would not regret in the future, so it came from her.”
Last year, she expressed interest in joining Malawi. What changed?
“Last year, there was a talk, but it started after one team recognised her in the US, that there is a Malawi player here. So, people [Malawians] said she was not a Malawian [by] looking at her name, so I told her to make a video and explain that she was born in Malawi, it’s just the name.”
Did FAM make a formal request to have her play for Malawi?
“There have been [stories] in the newspapers that we are putting Chioma to come and play for Malawi. I just heard that one of the coaches approached her to say that she should come to play for Malawi, it was in February, but it was not possible because she was busy at her club.”
Did the Nigerian FA reach out officially?
“Oh yes, I have a letter from Nigeria in my phone to say they want to have my daughter and they want to know more about her, if she played for the Malawi team, and asked if she was involved in the U17, which I said no. She played with Tabitha [Chawinga] way back here in Malawi, but when traveling, she failed to be with the team. The last time she was called was in 2015; she was young then. It was the first time to be called. She had training with the Scorchers.”
Do you feel FAM was not serious enough?
“I can’t say, I can’t say anything because it’s not me, it’s them, I don’t want to say anything against anyone, so no, I can’t say anything. All I know is that she trained with them in 2015. In February [2025], they contacted her to come over, but she couldn’t make it. But the Nigerian team they were there asking for her; they are the ones who helped her to get a Nigerian passport. I have never seen it even. They told her to go to Atlanta, she went there and made the passport for her, so you can see how serious they are. They got his passport last month, so they were very interested in her.”
Has Chioma been to Malawi recently?
“Chioma has been there; her last visit came in May 2023, when she was training with Bullets. Every day I was the one dropping her at Sports Complex for training, the other day they had a game at Chiwembe [Mpira Stadium], I was there, Walter Nyamilandu [former FAM boss] was there, Adelaide Migogo [Women’s President] was there, everyone was there, they saw her there, it was soon after Chioma left its when one team in US recognised her and it’s when everyone came and I was like Chioma was here, was even at FAM, and people were calling me for interviews, I was like I can’t do anything, she was here. That was when she recorded a video in which she explained that she was a Malawian.”
Did her father influence her decision?
“Her dad was not even around when she came up with a decision, she asked me, and I told her to do what would make her happy. She thought maybe mom will not be happy if she settles for Nigeria since I have been celebrating her [while] carrying the Malawi flag, so I told her to do what pleases her. That’s when she settled for Nigeria. I never influenced her decision.”
What’s next for Chioma?
Chioma has been included in Nigeria’s latest call-up as part of preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. A letter dated June 13, 2025, addressed to the President of the University of Connecticut, stated: “We are delighted to inform you about the selection of your player, Chioma Okafor, in respect of the upcoming 2025 Women’s African Competitions Tournament and training camp in Portugal in preparation for WAFCON in Morocco.”
She is now set to make her debut for Nigeria at WAFCON 2025.
READ MORE: Morocco beats Malawi 4-2 ahead of Wafcon clash with Zambia
