How Nigeria Beat Malawi To Secure WAFCON-Bound Okafor

How Nigeria Beat Malawi To Secure WAFCON-Bound Okafor

Sampson Adedeji

Patricia Okafor, mother of newly invited Super Falcons player Chioma Okafor, has shed light on the quiet tug-of-war between Nigeria and Malawi over her daughter’s international allegiance ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Chioma Okafor, a standout at the University of Connecticut, was a surprise name in coach Justine Madugu’s final squad for the tournament, which runs from July 5 to 26 in Morocco.

Born to a Nigerian father and a Malawian mother, the 21-year-old was eligible to represent either nation.

However, after contact from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Okafor opted to commit to the nine-time African champions.

As she prepares to make her debut for the Super Falcons, her mother has revealed how Nigeria’s proactive approach secured the young star's services.

 “I don’t want to say anything against anyone, so I won’t say much. All I know is she trained with [Malawi] in 2015,” Patricia told BolaNews.

“In February [2025], they reached out to her, but she couldn’t make it. But Nigeria were persistent. They were the ones who helped her get a Nigerian passport.

“I’ve never even seen the passport myself. They asked her to go to Atlanta, she did, and they processed everything for her. That shows how serious they were. She got the passport last month, they really wanted her.” Patricia also made it clear that the final decision rested entirely with Chioma.

 “It wasn’t my decision, it was hers,” she added.

“Nigeria sent a letter; I had no say. I told her to decide for herself, so she wouldn’t have regrets later. It was completely her choice.”

She explained that Chioma initially worried about how her mother, a proud Malawian, would feel about the decision.

“Her dad wasn’t even around when she made up her mind,” Patricia explained.

“She asked me, and I told her to do what made her happy. She thought I might not be happy if she chose Nigeria because I always celebrate her carrying the Malawi flag. But I told her, ‘Do what pleases you.’ So, she chose Nigeria. I never influenced her.”