Malawian football star Chioma Okafor is causing sensation in the US where she is playing at the University of Connecticut.
The 21-year-old was born to Malawian mother, Patricia (née Jiya) and Nigerian Ferdinand, left Malawi in 2019 to play football at the University of Connecticut while studying.
Before leaving Malawi, Okafor played for Lilongwe-based Ascent Soccer Academy and later joined Berkshire School in Massachusetts, USA.
Speaking with ProjectM in an interview, Okafor said she started playing football at a young age.
“I started playing when I was around 8. And mostly the influence came from primary school as PE activities,” she said.
Following Okafor’s impressive performance at Berkshire High School in 2019 and 2022 scoring 45 goals for the season, the football star was given an opportunity to play Division 1 at University of Connecticut.
“I’m playing at the highest collegiate level and given the conference my university plays in; Big East Conference, the standards are well laid out on the table,” she said.
Currently, she is the leading goal scorer for her team with 15 goals scored so far.
“My performance since I got here can be best described as an upward regression. I have grown a lot and can confidently say that I have contributed to my team in a unique way,” she said.
Last year, she made history having been named the NSCAA Third Team All-American after a six-goal, three-assist campaign in 2023 season in which she started all 19 games and led the team in scoring, while her 3.7 shots per game were first in the Big East as well.
The National Soccer Association of America (NSCAA) is the largest soccer coaches’ organisation that serves members at every level of the game.
Okafor said her plan to play for the Malawi Football National Team was circumstantial based on where an opportunity arises.
“As for being ready to play for Malawi, I am always ready for the challenge and whether that will be with Malawi or not is circumstantial” because my plan after college is to play professionally, whether that is in the US or elsewhere that will be a matter of time and offer,” she said.
Last week, she was named Player of the Week, having scored two goals and an assist in pair of victories.
