AFCON: Why Umuaka born Chiamaka was absent.

Indications have emerged why Umuaka born world famous female footballer, Chiamaka Cristabel Okwuchukwu of San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League was absent during the recently concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) which took place in Morocco from July 5 to 26. Akalites and many of her fans across Nigeria and beyond were looking forward to watching their international football star display her football skills but sadly enough, the Ugbele Akah born international footballer was not a part of those that won the 10th edition of the WAFCON tournament.

According to what Umuaka Times correspondents in America gathered, Chiamaka was indeed invited for the tournament and she was preparing for the big deal before (in the words of Phil Collins) “something happened on the way to heaven.” What happened ensured that the Abuja trip was no longer possible. That was how Chiamaka lost out in the tournament as colleagues eventually won the trophy.

Several efforts made by Umuaka Times to reach out to her were not successful but her manager, Mr. Bright Chimezie who spoke to Umuaka Times confirmed that she was officially invited by Nigeria but as God would have it, her participation during the soccer game did not go as planned.

Meanwhile Umuaka Times also confirmed that Chiamaka is now a Puma Brand Ambassador. Puma is the third largest sportswear manufacturing firm in the world.

Onwuchukwu Chiamaka who was born on 7 August 2005 (age 19 years) “is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She has represented Nigeria at the youth international level. On 13 January 2025, the NWSL’s San Diego Wave FC announced that they had signed Okwuchukwu on a one-year contract, transferring her for an undisclosed fee from Rivers Angels. She scored her first NWSL goal less than two minutes into her debut, which occurred in a 2–1 defeat to the Orlando Pride on 29 March 2025. Okwuchukwu earned her first start with the Wave in the following game, a 2–0 defeat to the Kansas City Current.

The 2025 edition and birthday celebration of Okwuchukwu Christabel Chiamaka come up on August 7 2025.