‘My family had nothing’ – Nigeria U-17 forward Oluebube Umejiaku opens up on childhood struggle

Umejiaku acknowledged the significant challenges she has faced in pursuing her football career but reaffirmed her commitment to the sport. In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, she reflected on her childhood struggles growing up in a family with limited resources.

“It’s not easy coming from a family that has nothing. It was a very big challenge for me to make it in life,” Umejiaku said. “No matter what, I won’t give up on my football career.”

The young athlete recently made headlines after scoring a goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Her outstanding performance earned her the tournament’s Golden Ball award, recognizing her as the best player.