Opeyemi Esther Ajakaye (born 30 December 2005) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for USL Super League club Carolina Ascent FC, on loan from the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and the Nigeria national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Opeyemi Esther Ajakaye | ||
| Date of birth | December 30, 2005 | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Carolina Ascent (on loan from the Kansas City Current) | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –2024 | FC Robo | ||
| 2024 | Madrid CFF | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | Kansas City Current | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Carolina Ascent (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Nigeria U-17 | 6 | (1) |
| 2024– | Nigeria U-20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023– | Nigeria | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 September 2024 | |||
Club career
editAjakaye transferred from Nigerian club FC Robo to Spanish Liga F club Madrid CFF in February 2024.[1] On 4 October 2024, it was reported that she left the Spanish club to play in the United States.[2]
On 15 November 2024, USL Super League club Carolina Ascent FC announced that Ajakaye had been loaned from National Women's Soccer League club Kansas City Current for the rest of the year.[3] She appeared on a gameday roster for the Ascent five days before.[4]
International career
editAjakaye 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.[3][5]
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.[6]
On 20 January 2024, Ajakaye scored the only goal against Burundi as Nigeria won the last stage of 2024 African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification 2–0 on aggregate.[7] She was included in the squad for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, where Nigeria fell to the eventual finalists Japan in the quarterfinals.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Oficial – Ajakaye ya es del Madrid CFF". Madrid CFF. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Brooklyn vs. Carolina Ascent 1 – 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Ahmed, Abdulateef (31 October 2022). "How Nigeria's Flamingos Beat Germany to Win U17 World Cup Bronze". News Central. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Adeleye, Adegboyega (25 October 2023). "2024 Olympic Qualifier: Young striker Ajakaye 'cherishes' Super Falcons debut". Vanguard. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Falconets crash out of U20 World Cup". Score Nigeria. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
External links
edit- Opeyemi Ajakaye at Soccerway.com
