Chinwendu Ihezuo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chinwendu Ihezuo

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo{{cite web |title=Women's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce159/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |page=9 |accessdate=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711175152/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce159/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |archivedate=July 11, 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|04|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Pachuca

| clubnumber = 30

| youthclubs1 =

| youthyears1 =

| clubs1 = Delta Queens F.C.

| years1 = 2014–2015

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| clubs2 = BIIK Kazygurt

| years2 = 2016–2018

| caps2 = 20

| goals2 = 16

| clubs3 = Henan Jianye

| years3 = 2019–2020

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 7

| clubs4 = Meizhou Hakka

| years4 = 2021–2022

| caps4 = 21

| goals4 = 11

| clubs5 = Monterrey

| years5 = 2023

| caps5 = 34

| goals5 = 10

| clubs6 = Pachuca

| years6 = 2024–

| caps6 = 34

| goals6 = 24

| totalcaps =

| totalgoals =

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria U-17

| nationalyears1 = 2012–2014

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalteam2 = Nigeria U-20

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2016

| nationalcaps2 =

| nationalgoals2 =

| nationalteam3 = Nigeria

| nationalyears3 = 2016–

| nationalcaps3 = 6

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| medaltemplates =

| club-update = 5 November 2024

| nationalteam-update = 19 April 2019

}}

Chinwendu Veronica Ihezuo (born 30 April 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX Femenil club Pachuca and the Nigeria women's national team.

Early life

Ihezuo was born on 30 April 1997 in Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria.{{Cite news |url=http://punchng.com/ajegunle-boys-made-me-fall-in-love-with-football-ihezuo/ |title=Ajegunle boys made me fall in love with football — Ihezuo – Punch Newspapers |last=Ojoye |first=Taiwo |date=24 April 2016 |newspaper=Punch Newspapers |location=Nigeria |language=en-US|access-date=25 October 2016 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/clubs/players/250099803--chinwendu-ihezuo/ |title=UEFA Women's Champions League – Chinwendu Ihezuo |last=UEFA |website=UEFA |access-date=25 October 2016}} She spent her childhood in Lagos. She is {{Height|m=1.75}} tall. Her parents were very supportive of her when she started playing football. Her mother supported her interest in the sport by buying her football jerseys in the local market. Through most of her youth, she competed and played with boys in Ajegunle, an area which has produced some of Nigeria's best men's football players.

Club career

From 2012 to 2014, she played for the Pelican Stars of Calabar.{{Cite news |url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/110872-ihezuo-ayinde-to-receive-fifa-honours.html |title=Ihezuo, Ayinde to receive FIFA honours |date=12 December 2012 |publisher=The Premium Times, Nigeria |newspaper=Premium Times Nigeria |location=Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria |language=en-GB|access-date=25 October 2016 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sl10.ng/news/articles/categories/south-africa/chinwendu-ihezuo-scores-only-goal-in-narrow-win/167639 |title=Chinwendu Ihezuo Scores Only Goal In Narrow Win |date=30 June 2014 |website=SL10 |publisher=Soccer Laduma |location=Nigeria|access-date=25 October 2016}} After that, she moved to the Delta Queens, and was with them until the end of the 2015 season.

=BIIK Kazygurt=

Ihezuo joined the professional club side BIIK Kazygurt of Kazakhstan for the 2016 on a one-year contract.{{Cite web |url=http://starconnectmedia.com/2016/10/19/chiwendu-ihezuo-arrives-trains-with-falconets/ |title=Chiwendu Ihezuo Arrives, Trains With Falconets |last=starconnect |date=19 October 2016 |website=Starconnect |publisher=Starconnect Media |location=Nigeria |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025174428/http://starconnectmedia.com/2016/10/19/chiwendu-ihezuo-arrives-trains-with-falconets/ |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/chinwendu-ihezuo_prs332057/person.shtml |title=Chinwendu Ihezuo – Player Profile – Football |newspaper=Eurosport|access-date=25 October 2016 }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.today.ng/sport/199114/ihezuo-arrives-falconets-camp-u20-womens-cup |title=Ihezuo arrives Falconets camp for U20 Women's World Cup » TODAY.ng |last=Iroha-Udoka |first=Jude |date=18 October 2016 |publisher=TODAY Digital News and Media Limited |newspaper=TODAY |location=Akwa Ibom, Southern Nigeria |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025174213/https://www.today.ng/sport/199114/ihezuo-arrives-falconets-camp-u20-womens-cup |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} In her debut season with the club where she wore number 19, she scored 16 goals for BIIK Kazygurt in 20 appearances. She competed with the team at the 2016-17 UEFA Women's Champions League, starting two games, and playing 180 minutes. Goalless in that period, she also picked up a yellow card in her team's 3–1 home victory against Verona. She made her debut in Champions League in her team's 3–1 victory against Wexford Youths during tournament qualifying.

= Henan Huishang F.C. =

On 7 April 2019 it was announced that she had joined Henan Huishang in the Chinese Women's Super League. On the very same day, she scored on her debut for her new side in a 4–1 defeat to Jiangsu Suning.{{Cite news |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/nigeria-striker-chinwendu-ihezuo-joins-henan-huishang/jx4atq1jrv8e17u796u2jnqlx |title=Chinwendu Ihezuo joins Henan Huishang |date=7 April 2019 |publisher=Goal.com |language=en-GB|access-date=19 April 2019 }}

Ihezuo's career in China began brightly with six goals coming in just six matches of her side's 2019 CFA Tournament campaign as Henan Huishang finished 9th overall. She was then selected by coach Thomas Dennerby as a member of Nigeria's squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48255200 |title=2019 Women's World Cup: Local octet in Nigeria provisional squad |date=13 May 2019 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB|access-date=17 May 2019 }}

Over the course of the 2019 Chinese Women's Super League, Ihezuo was the league's third top-scorer with seven goals from her 14 appearances. In spite of her efforts, Henan finished in seventh position out of eight teams.

Owing to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ihezuo was unable to return to China to compete in the 2020 Chinese Women's Super League season despite being under contract for a second season. Both Ihezuo and colleague Ebi Onome missed the entire campaign due to the closure of air travel out of Nigeria.

International career

=Senior national team=

Following her performance at the 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup, she was invited to attend a national team training camp for potential selection to the side that would compete at an African Women's Championship in Namibia.{{Cite news |url=http://www.aitonline.tv/post-four_falconets_promoted_to_falcons |title=Four Falconets Promoted To Falcons |last=Completesport |date=2014 |work=Africa Independent Television |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220164117/http://www.aitonline.tv/post-four_falconets_promoted_to_falcons |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}

In March 2016, she was one of 40 players called up to prepare for the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations.{{Cite web|url=http://silverbirdtv.com/sports/11467-omagbemi-invites-40-players-awcon-qualifiers|title=Omagbemi Invites 40 Players for AWCON Qualifiers {{!}} Silverbird Television|last=Awosiyan|first=Kunle|date=1 March 2016|website=Silver Bird Television|publisher=The Silverbird Group|location=Nigeria|access-date=25 October 2016|archive-date=25 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025195048/http://silverbirdtv.com/sports/11467-omagbemi-invites-40-players-awcon-qualifiers|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2016/02/29/awcon-qualifier-omagbemi-invites-oshoala-39-others-for-falcons/ |title=AWCON Qualifier: Omagbemi Invites Oshoala, 39 Others For Falcons |date=29 February 2016 |website=Channels Television |publisher=Channels Incorporated Limited. |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=25 October 2016}} She was a member of the senior national side for the 2015 All African Games in Congo.

In November 2018, she was selected for the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations and appeared as a substitute in the final as Nigeria overcame South Africa to claim the title.

Her first international goal came in January 2019, scoring in victory over Romania in a game played as part of the Meizhou International Women's Football Tournament in China.

On 24 May 2019, Ihezuo was called up to the Nigeria squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48405299 |title=2019 Women's World Cup: Veteran Onome Ebi included in Nigeria squad |first=Oluwashina |last=Okeleji |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 May 2019}}

Ihezuo was called up to the Nigeria squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://thenff.com/paris-2024-olympics-waldrum-picks-ajibade-nnadozie-oshoala-15-others/|title=Paris 2024 Olympics: Waldrum picks Ajibade, Nnadozie, Oshoala, 15 others|publisher=Nigeria Football Federation|website=thenff.com|date=3 July 2024}}

=U-20 national team=

Ihezuo was first called up to the team in 2014. She represented Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup where the team narrowly lost in the finals to Germany.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/ |title=FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup |website=FIFA.com |access-date=29 October 2015}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/12072/nigeria-women/2015/05/21/11935672/super-falcons-land-in-canada-with-perpetua-nkwocha-for-world |title=Super Falcons land in Canada with Perpetua Nkwocha for World Cup - Goal.com |website=Goal.com |access-date=29 October 2015}} She was one of the leading goal scorers in the competition.{{Cite news |url=https://www.today.ng/sport/19341/falconets-whip-dr-congo-in-kinshasa |title=Falconets whip DR Congo in Kinshasa |date=28 September 2015 |publisher=TODAY Digital News and Media Limited |newspaper=TODAY |location=Akwa Ibom, Southern Nigeria |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025172727/https://www.today.ng/sport/19341/falconets-whip-dr-congo-in-kinshasa |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} That year, she also played for the team in a friendly against Ghana. She scored the game's only goal that saw Nigeria win 1–0.

In September 2016, she was invited to the 29 member strong national team training camp that was preparing for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.{{Cite news |url=http://footballlive.ng/footballnews/9ja-news/dedevbo-invites-29-players-for-world-cup-camp/ |title=Dedevbo Invites 29 Players for World Cup Camp |last=Aluko |first=Seyi |date=20 September 2016 |newspaper=Football Live |location=Lagos, Nigeria |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025130712/http://footballlive.ng/footballnews/9ja-news/dedevbo-invites-29-players-for-world-cup-camp/ |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://newtelegraphonline.com/u-20-world-cup-dedevbo-calls-30-camp/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025185842/https://newtelegraphonline.com/u-20-world-cup-dedevbo-calls-30-camp/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2016 |title=U-20 World Cup: Dedevbo calls 30 to camp |date=25 September 2016 |website=New Telegraph Newspaper |location=Nigeria |access-date=25 October 2016 }}{{Cite web |url=http://sportonsky.com/ihezuo-ohiaeriaku-in-as-dedevbo-invites-30-for-fifa-u20-womens-world-cup/ |title=Ihezuo, Ohiaeriaku in as Dedevbo invites 30 for Fifa U20 Women's World Cup |last=administrator |date=21 September 2016 |website=SportonSky |location=Nigeria |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025175440/http://sportonsky.com/ihezuo-ohiaeriaku-in-as-dedevbo-invites-30-for-fifa-u20-womens-world-cup/ |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} She joined the team late for the camp in October in Abuja,{{Cite news |url=http://sportingtribune.com/dedevbo-shuts-u20-womens-world-cup-doors-kanu-awelewa/ |title=Dedevbo shuts U20 Women's World Cup doors on Kanu, Awelewa |last=Goal |date=24 October 2016 |work=Sporting Tribune |publisher=Nigerian Tribune Sports |location=Nigeria |language=en-US|access-date=25 October 2016 }} after the national team coach threatened her and other overseas players with being dropped if they did not arrive by 8 October.{{Cite news |url=http://von.gov.ng/dedevbo-issues-october-8-deadline-to-ihezuo-others/ |title=Dedevbo issues October 8 deadline to Ihezuo, others |last=Mark |first=Aisha John |date=4 October 2016 |newspaper=Voice of Nigeria |language=en-US |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007215204/http://von.gov.ng/dedevbo-issues-october-8-deadline-to-ihezuo-others/ |archive-date=7 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} She had to miss a training session as she needed time to recover from jet lag. As a player, she acknowledged the pressure she felt at camp going into the tournament to perform well.{{Cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/chinwendu-ihezuo-delighted-join-falconets-165317768.html |title=Chinwendu Ihezuo delighted to join Falconets |date=20 October 2016 |publisher=Goal |newspaper=Yahoo!Sports |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025181748/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chinwendu-ihezuo-delighted-join-falconets-165317768.html |url-status=dead }}

She scored seven goals for Nigeria in the qualifying competition for the World Cup. One of her goals came in the 16th minute in their return game against South Africa. The goal qualified Nigeria for the FIFA World Cup.{{Cite web |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2015/11/08/nigeria-qualify-for-2016-fifa-u-20-women-world-cup/ |title=Nigeria Qualify For 2016 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup |date=18 November 2015 |website=Channels Television |publisher=Channels Incorporated Limited |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=25 October 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/fcf4ee004a81da1cbbe3fb5d136eb684/BasetsanaundefinedmissundefinedoutundefinedonundefinedU20undefinedWorldundefinedCupundefinedspot-20150811 |title=SABC News – Basetsana miss out on U20 World Cup spot |last=Nkatlo |first=Percy |date=8 November 2015 |website=SABC News |publisher=South African Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025174120/http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/fcf4ee004a81da1cbbe3fb5d136eb684/BasetsanaundefinedmissundefinedoutundefinedonundefinedU20undefinedWorldundefinedCupundefinedspot-20150811 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} Another goal came in Nigeria's 2–1 victory against Congo DR.

=U-17 national team=

Ihezuo made her international debut for Nigeria at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan. She came away from the tournament with six goals. Five of these goals came in one game against hosts Azerbaijan, which her team won 11–0. The win was Nigeria's biggest in any FIFA World Cup appearance.{{Cite web |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2012/09/25/womens-world-cup-nigeria-wallop-azerbijan-11-0/ |title=Women's World Cup: Nigeria wallop Azerbaijan 11- 0 |date=25 September 2012 |website=Channels Television |publisher=Channels Incorporated Limited. |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=25 October 2016}} Her five goals were also a record for most goals scored in a single game at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.{{Cite news |url=http://eldia.es/deportes/2016-10-01/7-Espana-golea-anfitriona-debut-mundialista.htm |title=España golea a la anfitriona en el debut mundialista |date=1 October 2016 |publisher=Leoncio Rodríguez, S.A. |newspaper=El Día |location=Spain |language=es-ES|access-date=25 October 2016 }}{{Cite news |url=http://globovision.com/article/espana-y-mexico-debutan-con-victoria-en-sub-17-femenino |title=España y México debutan con victoria en sub 17 femenino |last=EFE |date=30 September 2016 |publisher=Globovision Tele C.A. |newspaper=Globovisión |location=Caracas, Venezuela |language=es-ES|access-date=25 October 2016 }} The record has previously been held by Germany's Kyra Malinowski and South Korea's Yeo Minji, who scored four goals each in the 2010 edition of the tournament.{{Cite news |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/chinwendu-ihezuo-sets-fifa-u-17-womens-world-cup-record/ |title=Chinwendu Ihezuo sets FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup record – Vanguard News |date=27 September 2012 |publisher=Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria |newspaper=Vanguard News |location=Lagos, Nigeria |language=en-US|access-date=25 October 2016 }} Her fete was matched by Lorena Navarro at the 2016 edition when the Spaniard scored 5 goals against Jordan. Her six goals also earned her the Silver Boot for the tournament. The award was presented to her at the 2012 Annual General Assembly of the Nigerian Football Federation. Her team was eliminated from the tournament after losing to France in the quarter-finals.

Not named to the squad in 2013, Ihezuo was also a member of the team in 2014. She again competed at the World Cup, wearing number 19 and playing in the team's game against China where she came on as a substitute.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aldia.cr/gnfactory/deportes/futbol/seleccion/mundial-fifa-femenino-sub-17/jugador_17_3154.html |title=Estadísticas de Chinwendu Ihezuo actualmente jugando con Nigeria en el Mundial FIFA Femenino Sub-17 |website=Al Día |location=Costa Rica |language=es-CR |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025173628/http://www.aldia.cr/gnfactory/deportes/futbol/seleccion/mundial-fifa-femenino-sub-17/jugador_17_3154.html |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Honours

; Nigeria

African Women's Championship (1): 2018
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Runner-up: 2014

; BIIK Kazygurt

Kazakhstani Championship (3): 2016, 2017, 2018
Kazakhstani Women's Cup (3): 2016, 2017, 2018

Individual

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Silver Boot: 2012

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
BIIK Kazygurt \|2016 \|Kazakhstani women's football championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	5	0
BIIK Kazygurt \|2017 \|Kazakhstani women's football championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	7	3	7	3
BIIK Kazygurt \|2018 \|Kazakhstani women's football championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1	5	1
Henan Huishang \|2019 \|Chinese Women's Super League \|14	7	1	1	6	6	0	0	21	14
rowspan="3" align="center" \|Meizhou Hakka \|2021 \|rowspan="2" align="center" \|Chinese Women's Super League \|7	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	4
2022 \|14	7	0	0	6	4	0	0	20	11
colspan="2"\|Total !21	11	0	0	6	4	0	0	27	15
rowspan="3" align="center" \|Monterrey \|2022-23 \|rowspan="2" align="center" \|Liga MX Femenil \|16	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	6
2023-24 \|17	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	4
colspan="2"\|Total !34	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	34	10
rowspan="3" align="center" \|Pachuca \|2023-24 \|rowspan="2" align="center" \|Liga MX Femenil \|21	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	15
2024-25 \|13	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	9
colspan="2"\|Total !34	24	0	0	0	0	0	0	34	24
colspan="3"\|Career total !89	45	1	1	12	10	17	4	119	60