Opeyemi Ajakaye

Opeyemi Ajakaye
Personal information
Full name Opeyemi Esther Ajakaye
Date of birth (2005-12-30) December 30, 2005
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 FC Robo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–2024 FC Robo
2024 Madrid CFF 0 (0)
2024 Kansas City Current 0 (0)
2024 → Carolina Ascent (loan) 2 (0)
2025– FC Robo
International career‡
2022 Nigeria U-17 6 (1)
2024– Nigeria U-20 2 (0)
2023– Nigeria 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 September 2024

Opeyemi Esther Ajakaye (born 30 December 2005) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for NWFL Premiership club FC Robo and the Nigeria national team. She won bronze with the Flamingoes at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[1][2]

Club career

Ajakaye transferred from Nigerian club FC Robo to Spanish Liga F club Madrid CFF in February 2024.[3] In October, it was reported that she left the Spanish club to play for an undisclosed club in the United States.[4]

Ajakaye was acquired by National Women's Soccer League club Kansas City Current and sent on loan to USL Super League club Carolina Ascent FC in November 2024,[5] making two appearances in the last games of the year.[6] She mutually agreed to end her contract with Kansas City in January 2025.[7]

Ajakaye returned to FC Robo in January 2025.[8]

International career

Ajakaye helped Nigeria win the bronze medal at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. On 30 October 2022, she scored the first goal for Nigeria in the third place match against Germany, which ended as a 3–3 draw; she then scored the winning penalty to secure the medal.[5][9]

Ajakaye made her senior debut for the Super Falcons on 25 October 2023, substituting for Asisat Oshoala in the last minutes of a 1–1 draw to Ethiopia in the 2024 CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament.[10]

On 20 January 2024, Ajakaye scored the only goal against the Burundi U-20s as Nigeria won the last stage of 2024 African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification 2–0 on aggregate.[11] She was included in the squad for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, where Nigeria lost to the eventual finalists Japan in the quarterfinals.[12]


2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup squads

Nigeria

A preliminary squad was announced on 5 July 2024.[13] The final squad was announced on 21 August 2024.[14]

Head coach: Christopher Danjuma

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Shukura Bakare (2005-08-14)14 August 2005 (aged 19) Nigeria Nasarawa Amazons
2 4FW Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (2005-08-07)7 August 2005 (aged 19) Nigeria Rivers Angels
3 4FW Chiamaka Osigwe (2007-04-26)26 April 2007 (aged 17) Nigeria Edo Queens
4 4FW Mary Nkpa (2007-12-22)22 December 2007 (aged 16) Nigeria Heartland Queens
5 3MF Shakirat Oyinlola (2006-01-08)8 January 2006 (aged 18) Spain La Liga Academy
6 2DF Rofiat Imuran (2004-06-17)17 June 2004 (aged 20) Unattached
7 4FW Flourish Sabastine (2004-10-20)20 October 2004 (aged 19) France Reims
8 4FW Amina Bello (2005-12-18)18 December 2005 (aged 18) United States Otero Rattlers
9 4FW Janet Akekoromowei (2007-11-06)6 November 2007 (aged 16) Nigeria Asisat Oshoala Academy
10 3MF Adoo Yina (2004-12-30)30 December 2004 (aged 19) Nigeria Nasarawa Amazons
11 3MF Olushola Shobowale (2004-11-20)20 November 2004 (aged 19) Nigeria Nasarawa Amazons
12 2DF Oluchi Ohaegbulem (captain) (2006-10-18)18 October 2006 (aged 17) Nigeria Nasarawa Amazons
13 2DF Oluwabunmi Oladeji (2004-08-09)9 August 2004 (aged 20) Nigeria Naija Ratels
14 4FW (2005-12-30)30 December 2005 (aged 18) Spain Madrid CFF
15 3MF Chioma Olise (2005-03-16)16 March 2005 (aged 19) Nigeria Edo Queens
16 1GK Anderline Mgbechi (2005-11-30)30 November 2005 (aged 18) Nigeria Delta Queens
17 2DF Jumoke Alani (2005-07-17)17 July 2005 (aged 19) Nigeria Nasarawa Amazons
18 2DF Shukurat Oladipo (2004-09-22)22 September 2004 (aged 19) Nigeria Robo
19 2DF Comfort Folorunsho (2006-01-26)26 January 2006 (aged 18) Nigeria Edo Queens
20 3MF Joy Igbokwe (2006-03-06)6 March 2006 (aged 18) Nigeria Naija Ratels
21 1GK Faith Omilana (2005-12-01)1 December 2005 (aged 18) Nigeria Naija Ratels

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 6 Knockout stage
2  Nigeria 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 6
3  South Korea 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
4  Venezuela 3 0 1 2 2 9 −7 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Germany 5–2 Venezuela
  • Steiner 15'
  • Bender 38' (pen.), 45+6'
  • Nachtigall 44'
  • Zicai 56'
 Report
  • Adamczyk 43' (o.g.)
  • Apóstol 90+5'
Attendance: 1,971
Nigeria 1–0 South Korea
Sabastine 86' Report
Attendance: 870
Referee: Karen Hernández (Mexico)
Germany 3–1 Nigeria
 Report Okwuchukwu 50'
Attendance: 1,393
Referee: Astrid Gramajo (Guatemala)
South Korea 0–0 Venezuela
Report
Attendance: 1,680
South Korea 1–0 Germany
Park Soo-jeong 22' Report
Attendance: 1,987
Referee: Anahí Fernández (Uruguay)
Venezuela 0–4 Nigeria
Report
  • Bello 16'
  • Okwuchukwu 28'
  • Sabastine 45+5'
  • Igbokwe 90+4'
Attendance: 1,693

Bracket

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
11 September – Bogotá (Campín)
 
 
 Mexico2
 
15 September – Cali
 
 United States (a.e.t.)3
 
 United States (p)2 (3)
 
12 September – Bogotá (Techo)
 
 Germany2 (1)
 
 Germany5
 
18 September – Cali
 
 Argentina1
 
 United States0
 
11 September – Bogotá (Campín)
 
 North Korea1
 
 Brazil (a.e.t.)3
 
15 September – Medellín
 
 Cameroon1
 
 Brazil0
 
12 September – Medellín
 
 North Korea1
 
 North Korea5
 
22 September – Bogotá (Campín)
 
 Austria2
 
 North Korea1
 
12 September – Bogotá (Techo)
 
 Japan0
 
 Japan2
 
15 September – Medellín
 
 Nigeria1
 
 Japan (a.e.t.)1
 
11 September – Cali
 
 Spain0
 
 Spain2
 
18 September – Cali
 
 Canada1
 
 Japan2
 
12 September – Medellín
 
 Netherlands0 Third place match
 
 France1
 
15 September – Cali21 September – Bogotá (Campín)
 
 Netherlands (a.e.t.)2
 
 Netherlands (p)2 (3) United States (a.e.t.)2
 
11 September – Cali
 
 Colombia2 (0)  Netherlands1
 
 Colombia1
 
 
 South Korea0
 

References

  1. ^ "Opeyemi Ajakaye Biography - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Summary - Opeyemi Ajakaye - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Oficial – Ajakaye ya es del Madrid CFF". Madrid CFF. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Ajakaye to join Super Falcons stars Oshoala, Alozie, Payne, Kanu in USA; departs Madrid CFF". All Nigeria Soccer. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Nigerian Youth International Opeyemi Ajakaye Joins Carolina Ascent FC on Loan from Kansas City Current". Carolina Ascent FC. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  6. ^ Opeyemi Ajakaye at Soccerway
  7. ^ "Kansas City Current Provide Roster Update As Preseason Camp Kicks Off". Kansas City Current. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  8. ^ "NWFL: Ajakaye returns to help Robo Queens to victory". nigeriasoccernet.com. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  9. ^ Ahmed, Abdulateef (31 October 2022). "How Nigeria's Flamingos Beat Germany to Win U17 World Cup Bronze". News Central. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  10. ^ Adeleye, Adegboyega (25 October 2023). "2024 Olympic Qualifier: Young striker Ajakaye 'cherishes' Super Falcons debut". Vanguard. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  11. ^ Erons, Imhons (20 January 2024). "Colombia 2024: Nigeria 1-0 Burundi (2-0 agg.) – Esther Ajakaye sends Falconets to FIFA U20 Women's World Cup". soccernet.ng. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Falconets crash out of U20 World Cup". Score Nigeria. 13 September 2024. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  13. ^ Ibrahim, Taiwo (5 July 2024). "Danjuma Invites 32 Players For FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Camp". The Whistler.
  14. ^ Eludini, Tunde (21 August 2024). "Nigeria unveils World Cup squad ahead of Australia friendly". Premium Times.
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