Ajakaye: The child of destiny that crisis could not stop
Ajakaye’s grass-to-grace story was almost truncated by the football crisis that rocked India
Most of the editions of the FIFA underage women’s tournament have led to the discovery of a new star for Nigeria. Jennifer Okoye writes about the new kid on the block, Opeyemi Ajakaye and the circumstances that almost truncated her discovery.
Introduction
Since the inception of the FIFA under-age tournaments for women, most editions that have been held always throw up a young lady that will become a star not just for the Super Falcons but a star that will go ahead to make waves in the more competitive and lucrative European and Asian Women Football Leagues.
Women football aficionados will remember Rita Chikwelu, star of the 2006 U-20 World Cup and her exploits later in the green/white/green for the senior women’s team.
Before they became Super Falcons, saves hands Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nnadozie’s sharp reflexes have earned them a solid reputation at the U-20 level.
Francisca Ordega, Ngozi Okobi, and Ugo Njoku were all thrown by the U-20 tournament in Japan.
The exploit of Asisat Oshoala at the 2014 edition in Canada announced her arrival as a star born to be great.
Uchechi Sunday, Halimatu Ayinde, Osas Igbinovia, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Uchenna Kanu, Rasheedat Ajibade and Joy Bokiri, Monday Gift Glory Ogbonna Chidinma Okeke and others made names at the underage level, before becoming integral part of the senior national team.
India 2022 did not disappoint. Though by winning the bronze medal, every member of the squad was outstanding but even among the outstanding stars that represented Nigeria in India, Opeyemi Ajakaye stood as one that has what it takes to step into the shoes of great icons like Florence Omagbemi, Mercy Akide, Oshoala and Ajide.
But the new kid on the block, Ajakaye’s grass-to-grace story, was almost truncated by the football crisis that rocked India, which led to the cancellation of the tournament before it was reversed thanks to divine intervention.
Crisis in Indian Football as an Obstacle
The crisis in Indian football almost prevented Ajakaye's star from rising in October.
The Football world governing body FIF, banned the India Football Federation on August 15, 2022, stating a third-party influence in its work.
India Football headed by Praful Patel, scheduled its general elections for November 2020. According to media reports, a case was filed against Patel and some members of Indian football.
The Supreme Court took up the case and removed Patel as AIFF President on May 18, 2022, and dismissed the general body.
The court then appointed a three-member CoA and tasked it with forming the new constitution and holding free and fair elections in association with state federations and football clubs in India.
The deadlines for the constitution's formation and holding the elections were decided in July 31 and September 13, respectively.
Initially, FIFA was not troubled by CoA's appointment, which was the first time a third party (apart from AIFF and state associations) was involved in the running of football in India.
However, there was an aberration in how things eventually panned out. The CoA formed an advisory committee headed by Ranjit Bajaj (remember he was the petitioner in the case which dismissed Patel as AIFF President). Though this committee was disbanded, the CoA missed the deadline of July 31 for the submission of the constitution's draft.
Things worsened as CoA named 36 eminent footballers with a 50% vote share in deciding the next AIFF President and general body. This was against FIFA's mandate of not more than 25% representation of players and not less than 75% representation of bodies (state associations) constituting the AIFF in the elections.
FIFA then decided to ban the AIFF and the first victim was Gokulam Kerala, the Indian women's club champions, who were slated to participate in the AFC Women's Club Championship 2022 in Uzbekistan.
Then India hosting right for the Women's U-17 World Cup was suspended. "The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022™, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned," FIFA said in a statement.
Ajakaye on the world stage
But reason later prevail, FIFA lifted India’s suspension, hosting right was restored and Ajakaye got her chance to shine on the world stage.
Trust a Lagos girl, she didn’t let the chance slip. Though Nigeria started slowly losing their first match to Germany 1-2 even in the match, Ajakaye was outstanding.
In the next two games against New Zealand and Chile which they won to book a quarter-final place, the FC Robo star did not score in the 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand but she stood out with her untiring runs, and link-up plays with her colleagues.
She was the heartbeat of the team attack and an ever-present danger to the opposing defence.
Ajakaye was not only superb in assisting teammates to score she was named Player of the Match for the two games.
In the final game against Germany, Ajakaye scored in regulation time and also converted her spot-kick during the penalty shootout.
With a bronze medal on her neck, three Player of the Match Awards and the expectation of being named in the team of the tournament, India 2022 has continued the tradition of FIFA under age tournament shooting Nigerian prodigies to the international limelight.
Welcome to the club of legends in the making-Opeyemi Ajakaye.
PULL QUOTE: But the new kid on the block, Ajakaye’s grass-to-grace story was almost truncated by the football crisis that rocked India which led to the cancellation of the tournament before it was reversed thanks to divine intervention.
But reason later prevail, FIFA lifted India’s suspension, hosting right was restored and Ajakaye got her chance to shine on the world stage.
