DEBORAH “Kante” Abiodun was first spotted at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2022 where she gallantly stood out as a midfielder with football intelligence and intimidating skills for her age category.
These superb qualities she possessed at that tender age didn’t go unnoticed despite the team losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
Notably, the U-20 girls had topped Group C with victories over France, Canada, and South Korea, before proceeding to the quarter-finals with such huge prospects.
Deborah’s football acumen caught Coach Randy Waldrum’s attention who was the head coach of the Super Falcons and doubled as the coach of the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Football Team in the USA.
Deborah then met with Coach Randy and took the lifetime opportunity with both hands.
According to Coach Randy: “Deb came to me and said, ‘Will you take me to your school? I want to go to college, and I want to get an education,”
Of course, her request was granted and in 2023, Deborah received a full scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh, joining the Women’s Football Team and made the 2023 Female World Cup team the same year at age 19.
Her superb World Cup campaign was cut short by the harsh punishment meted out to her for the hard tackle on the Canadian. The player was neither injured nor stretched out but Debbie was sent off despite shaking hands with the player (fair play) she infringed and her match suspension further elongated unfairly.
Football-loving Nigerians look forward to a more mature Deborah who will once again be stepping into the shoes of injured midfield maestro, Halimatu Ayinde for the entire Olympics campaign and wish her a successful outing.
Eighteen-Eleven Media