Chioma Okafor Chooses Nigeria Over Malawi for WAFCON 2025 Debut

Abeokuta, Nigeria – Chioma Okafor, the 21-year-old US-based footballer with Malawian and Nigerian heritage, has officially opted to represent Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the upcoming 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to commence on July 5 in Morocco. This decision comes despite her strong Malawian roots and previous interest in joining Malawi’s national team.

Okafor, who plays collegiate soccer for the University of Connecticut, was named in Nigeria’s final 24-player squad. The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) had earlier invited her to join the Malawi Scorchers’ training camp ahead of a friendly against Zambia, but she did not attend due to club commitments.

In an exclusive interview, Chioma’s mother, Patricia Jiya Okafor, clarified the reasons behind her daughter’s choice. She emphasized that the decision was entirely Chioma’s, influenced by Nigeria’s prompt and official approach, including swift processing of her Nigerian passport. “Nigeria sent a formal letter, and Chioma chose for herself. I advised her to pick what she wouldn’t regret,” Patricia said.

Patricia also addressed misconceptions around Chioma’s Malawian identity, noting that despite her name, Chioma was born in Malawi and has strong ties to the country. Chioma last visited Malawi in May 2023, training with the Bullets women’s team and participating in local matches.

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While Malawi’s FA showed interest, Patricia revealed their approach was less formal and timely compared to Nigeria’s. “FAM contacted her in February 2025, but she was busy with her club. Nigeria’s FA was proactive—they arranged for her Nigerian passport in Atlanta last month, showing their seriousness.”

Chioma’s father was not involved in the decision-making process. Patricia encouraged her daughter to follow her heart, even if it meant choosing Nigeria over Malawi.

With her inclusion in Nigeria’s squad, Chioma is poised to make her senior international debut at WAFCON 2025, marking a significant milestone in her promising career.

Background:
Chioma Okafor has dual eligibility through her Nigerian father and Malawian mother. She has been on the radar of both national teams since her youth, having trained briefly with Malawi’s youth setup in 2015. Her recent commitment to Nigeria reflects the growing competition among African nations to secure talented diaspora players ahead of major tournaments.

For further updates on Chioma Okafor and the Super Falcons’ WAFCON campaign, stay tuned to our sports section.