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“I Cannot Give Up” — Flamingos Star Umejiaku Reveals Mother’s Struggles Behind Her Golden Ball Triumph
For Oluebube Umejiaku, winning the Golden Ball at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup was more than a personal sporting achievement. The Flamingos forward says her determination to succeed in football is driven by a desire to give her mother a better life after years of hardship.
Speaking to BBC News Pidgin, the Nigerian teenager opened up about growing up in a family with limited financial resources and the challenges that have shaped her ambition.
“It’s not easy coming out from a family that has nothing. It was a very big challenge for me to make it in life. No matter how, in this football career, I won’t give up. I cannot give up,” she said.
Umejiaku explained that her mother’s experiences remain her strongest motivation, particularly the way people have treated her.
“I can’t give up because of my mother; she has suffered a lot. I need to take her out of where she is. People insult her, talk to her anyhow. Even when I’m there, they talk to her anyhow,” she added.
The forward said she regularly prays for recognition and success, hoping that her achievements will change how people perceive and treat her mother.
Her determination has already produced a remarkable breakthrough. Umejiaku played a decisive role in Nigeria’s historic campaign in Morocco, where the Flamingos became the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Although she did not start Nigeria’s opening 2-1 defeat to Poland, she came off the bench to score the team’s first goal of the tournament. She went on to contribute goals or assists in every match she featured in.
She scored against North Korea and Mexico, won the late penalty that secured Nigeria’s quarter-final victory over Venezuela, assisted a goal against Brazil in the semi-final and scored in the 2-1 final victory over Japan.
Her performances earned her the tournament’s Golden Ball, recognising her as the competition’s outstanding player.
Reflecting on the achievement, Umejiaku revealed that she never imagined receiving such recognition when she began playing football at the age of seven. She also credited her mother’s constant encouragement during the tournament for helping her maintain belief in herself.
For the young forward, the Golden Ball is an important milestone, but her ambition stretches beyond individual awards. She wants to build a successful football career that will transform her family’s circumstances and give her mother the comfort she believes she deserves.
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