Esther Okoronkwo Biography- Nigeria Super Falcons Star, Age, Career, Net Worth & Achievements
Esther Okoronkwo
Esther Okoronkwo Biography
Esther Okoronkwo (Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo), born 27 March 1997 in Abia State, Nigeria, is a Nigerian international football forward who plays for AFC Toronto in Canada’s Northern Super League and the Nigeria women’s national team. A standout at Lamar University, she earned multiple collegiate honors before rising in European and Asian leagues, becoming a talismanic figure at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Keywords: Esther Okoronkwo, Nigerian female footballer, Super Falcons, AFC Toronto, WAFCON 2024, Nigerian striker biography.
Esther Okoronkwo Early Life & Youth Career
Full name: Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo, born in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, on 27 March 1997 .
Raised in Richmond, Texas, U.S.; attended Foster High School and developed her talents in U.S. youth soccer .
Esther Okoronkwo College & Amateur Career
Began collegiate soccer at Northeast Texas Community College, tallying 40 points in her freshman year and 25 as a sophomore .
Continued at Lamar University (2018–2021), scoring 35 goals with 13 assists in 39 games—earning Southland Conference Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, and national-level statistics rankings.
Esther Okoronkwo Professional Club Career
Joined AS Saint‑Étienne in France in 2021; part of the squad that gained promotion to Division 1 Féminine, making 27 appearances and scoring 7 goals .
In June 2023, moved to Spanish Liga F side UD Tenerife, recording 2 goals in 10 matches .
Signed with Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue in China for the 2024 season, then joined AFC Toronto in Canada’s Northern Super League in February 2025 .
Scored both goals in AFC Toronto’s first-ever victory (2–1 over Calgary Wild FC) on 1 May 2025, becoming club legend status from day one .
Esther Okoronkwo International Career & WAFCON Impact
Made her Super Falcons debut on 10 June 2021 in a friendly vs Jamaica and scored her first international goal in February 2022—securing Nigeria’s qualification for AWCON .
Selected for Nigeria’s squad at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics .
At the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, she excelled—scoring one goal and providing two assists in a 5–0 win over Zambia in the quarter-finals and starring in the final vs Morocco with a penalty goal, an assist to Ijamilusi, and a picked free‑kick assist to Echegini in a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory—leading Nigeria to their record 10th title .
Emerged as a key playmaker and Nigeria’s top assister during the tournament.
Esther Okoronkwo Achievements – Full Details
College Achievements (USA)
Institution: Lamar University (2018–2021)
Team: Lamar Cardinals Women’s Soccer Team
Key Achievements:Southland Conference Forward of the Year (2020–21)
– Recognized as the most outstanding forward in the entire conference.
Southland Conference Player of the Year (2020–21)
– Awarded to the most valuable player across all positions.
All-Southland First Team Honors
– Selected among the best eleven players in the league for two consecutive seasons.
Ranked Nationally in NCAA Stats
– Ranked 4th in the NCAA Division I for total goals and 6th for goals per match in her final season.
Lamar’s Second All-Time Top Scorer
– Scored 35 goals and 13 assists in 39 games, one of the highest in school history.
2020–21 Southland Conference Tournament Champion
– Helped Lamar University win the conference title.
Professional Club Achievements
AS Saint-Étienne (France) – 2021 to 2023
Scored 7 goals in 27 appearances.
Instrumental in helping the club return to Division 1 Féminine, France’s top-tier women’s league.
Promoted to D1 Feminine (2022)
UD Tenerife (Spain) – 2023
Played in Liga F, Spain’s top women’s football division.
Contributed 2 goals in 10 matches before transferring.
Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue (China) – 2024
Competed in the Chinese Women’s Super League.
Expanded her international playing experience in Asia.
AFC Toronto (Canada) – 2025 to Present
Scored first-ever brace (2 goals) in AFC Toronto’s debut win (2–1 vs Calgary Wild FC).
Leading goal-scorer in the 2025 Northern Super League season as of mid-year.
Named Player of the Match in multiple games.
International Achievements – Nigeria Super Falcons
Nigeria Debut: June 10, 2021
– Friendly vs Jamaica (Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament)
First International Goal: February 2022
– Scored against Ivory Coast in a 1–0 win, securing qualification for the 2022 AWCON.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 (Australia & New Zealand)
– Selected in Nigeria’s 23-player squad.
– Helped Nigeria advance to the knockout stage, reaching the Round of 16.
2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)
Tournament Performance:
3 Assists & 1 Goal during the tournament.
Scored in the quarterfinal vs Zambia (5–0).
Player of the Match in the final against Morocco.
Final Match Highlights (vs Morocco):
Scored equalizing penalty (1–1)
Assisted Jennifer Echegini’s goal with a brilliant free kick
Assisted Imuran Ijamilusi’s winning goal in injury time
Led Nigeria to their 10th WAFCON title
2024 Summer Olympics – Paris
Selected to represent Nigeria at the Olympics.
Featured as a key striker for the Super Falcons.
Individual Recognition
Top Assister at WAFCON 2024
Nominated for African Women’s Player of the Year 2024 (unconfirmed as of now)
Included in CAF Best XI (2024 WAFCON Team of the Tournament)
Esther Okoronkwo summary of achievements
Category Key Achievements
College Player of the Year, All-Conference Team, 35 goals at Lamar University
Club Career Goals in 4 countries: France, Spain, China, Canada
National Team 2024 WAFCON Champion, 2023 World Cup player, Olympic representative
Individual WAFCON assists leader, Player of the Match (multiple), CAF XI pick
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Esther Okoronkwo Attribute Info
Full Name Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo
Born 27 March 1997, Abia State, Nigeria
Height ~1.65 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Forward / Right Wing
Current Club AFC Toronto (Canada)
Previous Clubs Lamar Univ., Saint‑Étienne, UD Tenerife, Changchun Dazhong
National Team Nigeria (Super Falcons)
Club Stats Season 2025: 10 apps / 4 goals at AFC Toronto
International Caps/Goals ~23 caps, ~9 goals (as of July 2025)
Family Background of Esther Okoronkwo
Esther Okoronkwo Parents & Origin
Esther Okoronkwo Born on March 27, 1997, in Abia State, Nigeria, Esther (Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo) relocated to Richmond, Texas, during childhood along with her family .
Several bios note her Nigerian origin and relocation to the U.S., but do not list her parents’ names or occupations .
Esther Okoronkwo Siblings
There are no verified details available about whether she has any siblings. Nigerian media bios and football profiles omit mention of siblings entirely.
Esther Okoronkwo Marital or Relationship Status
Esther is reportedly single, with no publicly confirmed spouse or children .
Why Family Info Is ScarcePrivacy preference – Many athletes keep personal and family details out of the public domain.
Media focus on her career, not personal life—most coverage emphasizes her football achievements rather than her upbringing.
FAQ About Esther Okoronkwo
Where was Esther Okoronkwo born and raised?
Born in Abia State, Nigeria, she grew up in Richmond, Texas, where her football journey began .
What colleges did she attend and how did she perform?
She played at Northeast Texas Community College and Lamar University, scoring 28 points and 35 goals respectively, earning major awards and national rankings .
Which clubs has she played for professionally?
Her career includes stints with Saint‑Étienne (France), UD Tenerife (Spain), Changchun Dazhong (China), and AFC Toronto (Canada) .
What is her impact with the Nigerian national team?
A4: Since debuting in June 2021, she has scored important goals in qualifiers and delivered standout performances at WAFCON and in Olympic competition .
What made her a standout at WAFCON 2024?
A5: Her combined scoring and assisting in critical knockout matches—especially the final against Morocco—helped seal Nigeria’s 10th continental title. She was a leader in goals and assists in the tournament .
Also Read: Viktor Gyökeres Biography
Esther Okoronkwo Summary
Esther Okoronkwo has rapidly evolved from a Texas-raised collegiate standout into one of African women’s football’s brightest stars. With a blend of scoring ability, set-piece skill, and football intelligence, she’s now a hero for both AFC Toronto and the Super Falcons, instrumental in Nigeria’s WAFCON triumph and Olympic pursuits. Her journey across four continents reflects ambition and adaptability—and she shows no signs of slowing down.