Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team captain, Harmony Chidi, has revealed how her football career began against her mother’s wishes, disclosing that her mother preferred she got married rather than pursue her passion for the sport.

The young footballer said her grandmother was the only person who stood by her ambition and encouraged her to continue playing despite the opposition from her mother. Sadly, she noted that her grandmother has since passed away.

“When I started football, my mama didn’t allow me play, she didn’t want me playing football, she wanted me to get married. Only my grandma encouraged me and now my grandma is no more, it’s just me and my mum now,” Chidi said.

Reflecting on the challenges she encountered in her football journey, the U-17 captain identified injuries and the loss of friendships as some of her most painful experiences.

She explained that while battling injuries, some of her friends abandoned her, leaving her with little social support during difficult periods.

“Nothing hard me pass injury, all my friends leave me, nobody wan associate with me,” she recounted.

Despite these setbacks, Chidi said she remains motivated by some of the biggest names in world football, including Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Raphinha and Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala.

She particularly identified Oshoala as a major inspiration, although she has set an ambitious target of achieving even greater success than the six-time African Women's Player of the Year.

“My dream is to be greater than Asisat Oshoala,” she declared.

Chidi’s determination reflects her desire to overcome the obstacles that once threatened her football dream and establish herself as one of Nigeria’s outstanding female football stars.

From facing resistance at home to enduring injuries and losing friends, the young captain remains focused on achieving her ambition of making history in the game.