Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team captain, Harmony Chidi, has opened up about the early opposition she faced from her mother when she decided to pursue football, revealing that her late grandmother was her only family supporter at the time.
Speaking in an interview with BBC News Pidgin monitored by PUNCH Online on Thursday after leading the Flamingos to their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph, Chidi said her mother initially rejected the idea of her playing the game and preferred that she get married instead.
“When I started football, my mama didn’t allow me play, she didn’t want me playing football, she wanted me to get married. Only my grandma encouraged me and now my grandma is no more, it’s just me and my mum now,” she said.
The young captain also spoke about the personal struggles she encountered while building her career, particularly the impact of injuries and the loss of friendships.
“Nothing harder injury, all my friends left me, nobody wanted to associate with me,” Chidi added.
Despite those challenges, she said she draws motivation from some of the world’s top footballers.
She named Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Manchester City forward Erling Haaland, England captain Harry Kane, Barcelona winger Raphinha and Super Falcons legend Asisat Oshoala as players she admires.
Chidi made clear that her ambition goes beyond admiration. She wants to surpass them.
“I have like five players that I dream to be better than: Osimhen, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Raphinha and Asisat Oshoala. I want to be greater than them,” she said.
She singled out Oshoala in particular: “My dream is to be greater than Asisat Oshoala.”
