How Nigeria Super Falcons’ latest catch snubbed Malawi

Okafor: Football Association of Malawi.

America-based striker Chioma Okafor’s mother has explained why her daughter snubbed the Malawi senior women’s national football team for Nigeria’s Super Falcons.

Patricia Okafor spoke to Zambia’s Bola News to clarify her daughter’s decision to play for her father’s country and not Malawi, where she was born. The player’s mother is Malawian.

Her mother, Patricia Okafor, revealed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) showed more seriousness in ensuring that the 21-year-old would feature for the Super Falcons.

She said the NFF moved in quickly to process the striker’s passport after learning that she had not played for the Scorchers.

“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 explained.

“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.”

Patricia Okafor seemed to suggest that the Football Association of Malawi did not show more intent and seriousness to get her daughter on board.

“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 were there asking for her. They are the ones who helped her to get a Nigerian passport. I have never even seen it. They told her to go to Atlanta. She went there and made the passport, so you can see how serious they are. She got the passport last month, so they were very interested in her,” the mother added.

The Football Association of Malawi announced last week that Chioma Okafor had opted to represent the Super Falcons. The striker was born to a Malawian mother and Nigerian father.

Last week, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) confirmed that they had failed to convince the young striker to play for the Scorchers.

“Chioma, who was born in Malawi to a Nigerian father and a Malawian mother, has yet to play for a Malawian national team at any level. The University of Connecticut striker, based in the USA, was initially called up for the Scorchers’ international friendlies against Zambia in February. However, she was unavailable for selection at the time due to academic commitments,” FAM’s statement read.

“Subsequently, FAM received official communication from the Nigeria Football Federation indicating Okafor’s commitment to play for the West African nation. FAM engaged the parents and the player, who have confirmed her intention and commitment to represent Nigeria.”

The decision of Chioma Okafor is a big blow to the team led by Lovemore Fazili, which lacks attacking options, having to rely mainly on Chawinga sisters Temwa and Tabitha.