Nigeria Content Online

Twelve years after
playing at the maiden edition of the African Women’s Championship (AWC)
in Abeokuta, Nigeria, where the Super Falcons won their first African
title, veteran winger, Stella Mabchu has continued to wax stronger. The
32-year-old capped her wonderful performances over the years with the
Most Valuable Player Award of the just concluded AWC in South Africa.

It was the first
time Mbachu would be recognised as such at any AWC but it wasn’t her
first time of being a member of a championship winning side. In fact, it
was the sixth time Mbachu would be winning a gold medal at the AWC.

She has been a
member of every Nigerian side that has won the African title since 1998
and has taken part in every tournament except for the 2008 tournament in
Equatorial Guinea where the Super Falcons lost out in the semi finals
to the Equatoguineans.

Back in 1998, the then 20-year-old Mbachu played second fiddle to Patience Avre on the right side of the midfield for team.

But her speed both
on and off the ball, as well as her good dribbling skills, were not to
be ignored by the team’s coach Ismaila Mabo, and he duly rewarded the
youngster with a place in the team for the final match against Ghana’s
Black Queens where she rewarded the coach with a goal.

She sealed her place in the team after her performance at that year’s Africa World Championship.

Mbachu went on to
feature at three Olympic Games, the All Africa Games, as well as the
last three editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. With her current form
she is likely to make it to Germany in June next year for her fourth
World Cup appearance.

Mbachu currently plays her football in China for top division side Tianjin Teda.