Malawian footballer Chioma Okafor has been named a 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy semi-finalist.
The prestigious award, considered the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division 1 soccer, recognises outstanding players in the sport.
Okafor, is a 21-year-old born in Blantyre, Malawi, to a Malawian mother, Patricia (née Jiya), and a Nigerian father, Ferdinand.
She left Malawi in 2019 to pursue her football career and academic studies at the University of Connecticut.
The talented athlete has made a significant impact on the football field, leading the BIG EAST Conference and the Huskies with 13 goals and 30 points on the season.
Her impressive performance has earned her a spot among the 19 women’s semi-finalists announced by the United Soccer Coaches and the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) last Wednesday.
Okafor’s achievement is a milestone for the University of Connecticut, as she becomes the first UConn player to be named a semi-finalist since Rachel Hill and Stephanie Ribiero were recognized in 2016.
Before joining the University of Connecticut, Okafor played for Lilongwe-based Ascent Soccer Academy and later joined Berkshire School in Massachusetts, USA.
The MAC Hermann Trophy has been awarded annually since 1967, and three women’s finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Okafor’s selection as a semi-finalist is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and passion for the sport.
As Okafor looks forward to the next stage of the award process, her achievement serves as an inspiration to young footballers in Malawi and around the world, demonstrating that with talent, perseverance, and determination, anything is possible.
