Rita Chikwelu (born 6 March 1988) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward and midfielder for the Saudi Women's Premier League club Al-Riyadh and the Nigeria women's national team.[2][3] She previously played for the Swedish sides Umeå IK and Kristianstads DFF[4], and later for the Spanish clubs Madrid CFF and Levante Las Planas.[5]
.JPG) Chikwelu with Umeå IK on 24 July 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 March 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Asaba, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1] | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Riyadh | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cold City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –2005 | Akwa Starlets | ||
| 2006–2009 | FC United | (28) | |
| 2010–2016 | Umeå IK | 140 | (16) |
| 2017–2019 | Kristianstad | 64 | (12) |
| 2020–2022 | Madrid CFF | 64 | (5) |
| 2022–2023 | Levante Las Planas | 8 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Al Shabab | 8 | (2) |
| 2024– | Al-Riyadh | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007– | Nigeria | 33 | (15) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 July 2011 | |||
Club career
editFrom 2006 to 2009, Chikwelu played in Finland for FC United. She was the top scorer of the Finnish women's league Naisten Liiga, in 2009, with 22 goals.[6]
Chikwelu spent seven seasons with Umeå IK from 2010 to 2016 but left following the club's relegation and joined Kristianstads DFF on a two-year contract.[7] She later transferred to Madrid CFF and Levante Las Planas in Spain. In August 2023, she signed for Saudi club Al Shabab.[8][9]
International career
editChikwelu participated in the FIFA U-20 World Cup from 2004 to 2008 and made her senior national team debut in 2007 at the FIFA Women's World Cup.[10] She was a member of the Nigerian Olympic team that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in China and was also part of the Nigerian squad in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.[11]
Honours
edit- African Women's Championship Winner: 2016, 2018
In 2024, she was honored with a traditional bestowment by her hometown, which donated a sum of money to her foundation, the Rita Chikwelu Football Academy.[12]
References
edit- ↑ "Athlete Biography: CHIKWELU Rita". Beijing2008.cn. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008.
- ↑ Femi, Emmanuel. "I Was Fortunate To Play Alongside Nkwocha, Dede, Chikwelu – Oshoala". Leadership. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ↑ "Rita Chikwelu Stats - Goals, Shots, Passes | RedScores". redscores.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ↑ "Rita Chikwelu profile". Umeå IK. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ "Rita Chikwelu Biography". ESPN. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ↑ "Naisten Liiga scorers 2006–2011". Finnish Football Association. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
- ↑ Fredriksson, Emelie (26 November 2016). "Rita Chikwelu klar för Kristianstads DFF" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ↑ "Transfer: Super Falcons midfielder completes Al Shabab transfer". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. 24 August 2023.
- ↑ Oyebola, Mike (25 August 2023). "Saudi League: Chikwelu grabs brace at Al Shabab debut". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
- ↑ Football, Nigeria (24 August 2023). "Rita Chikwelu becomes first Nigeria woman to join Saudi Arabia from Europe - Nigeria Football". Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Rita Chikwelu". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ↑ Onyeka (6 June 2024). "Anambra Community Honours Super Falcon Star, Rita Chikwelu". Anambra people magazine. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
External links
edit
Media related to Rita Chikwelu at Wikimedia Commons
- Rita Chikwelu – FIFA competition record (archived)
- FIFA.com – Article on Rita Chikwelu
- FC United – Picture of Rita and FC United team Archived 31 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- FIFA.com – Photo album
- Rita Chikwelu at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish) (archived)
- Rita Chikwelu at Soccerway
- Rita Chikwelu at Olympedia
- Rita Chikwelu at Olympics.com
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