By: Chuks Ogbu

It’s fair to say the role of a defender has changed in recent years. Sure, stopping the opposition from scoring remains  the key responsibility  of a defender but the act of dictating the flow of the game from the rear appears now  to be in vogue.

The truth is not many defenders in the Nigerian women's league (and the rest of Africa) understands the rudiments, creativity and skills required to play as a play making defender, and one name that stands out in this role in the women's game is Immaculata Edet Offiong.

 

Immaculata Edet Offiong is a well known name in Nigerian women's football, a talented and clinical defender with a big heart. She is a fearless defensive enforcer who has got virtually  all the attributes required of a modern  defender.
Be it  technique, composure on the ball, pace, power and, to top it off, she reads the game so well and dictacts the flow of the game almost the same way a top notch creative midfielder would.

 

The Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt right back was a part of the bronze medal winning Flamingos side at the 2022 FIFA Women's World Cup In India.  infact Offiong was so important to the Bankole Olowokere tutored side that she was always called up on multiple occasions to handle the teams set pieces due to her undeniable expertise in dead ball situations (especially penalties).

 

So far in the ongoing 2023/2024 Nigerian Women's Football League season, she has been a regular feature in the Rivers Angels team and has had some very good performances this season, most notably the fixtures against Edo Queens, Remo Stars Ladies, Robo Queens etc.

She also played every game for Rivers Angels as the went all the way to the Women's Federations Cup Final where the unfortunately lost to Bayelsa United.

 

Immaculata Edet Offiong is a rare talent in the Nigerian Women's Football, a defensive maestro on the treshold of stardom.