Mercy Akide

Port Harcourt

Mercy Akide was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on 26 August 1975 and played football with her brothers from the age of five. She also ran middle distance and was a table-tennis champion at school. She starred for Jegede Babes, Ufuoma Babes and Pelican Stars in Nigeria.

For Nigeria

Akide won African titles in 1998, 2000 and 2002. At the 1999 World Cup she scored as Nigeria won World Cup games for the first time and reached the quarter-finals, and she played at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. She was named the first CAF African Women’s Player of the Year (2001 award).

America

At Milligan College she set school scoring records, then became the first African to play in the WUSA professional league, with San Diego Spirit. She now coaches in Virginia, USA.