A growing number of Malawians have expressed disappointment over Super Falcons forward Chioma Okafor’s decision to represent Nigeria at international level instead of Malawi, the country of her birth.

Okafor, who was born in Malawi to a Malawian mother and Nigerian father, began her football career in Malawi and even trained with the women’s national team, the Scorchers, in 2015 — but she never made a senior appearance for the side.

Fluent in Chichewa, Malawi’s national language, Okafor previously declared her Malawian identity, sparking expectations that she would eventually play for the Scorchers. Instead, she opted to represent Nigeria, a choice that has fueled criticism and blame in Malawi — some of it directed at her mother.

“It’s not me; it was her choice,” Chioma’s mother explained in response to the backlash. “Nigeria wrote a letter; I didn’t have any say. I told her to choose so that she would not regret it in the future, so it came from her.”

Although she was called up by the Super Falcons for the 2024 WAFCON, Okafor did not feature due to injury and tactical decisions. Still, the 22-year-old remains optimistic about her role in the Nigerian team.

“I’ll remain patient. My time will come and when it does, I’ll make the most out of it,” she said.

Her decision has reignited debates in Malawi about dual-nationality players, talent retention, and the country’s ability to secure its football prospects before they are courted by other nations.