Nigeria midfielder Halimatu Ayinde has expressed delight after signing her contract with Swedish champions BK Häcken, stating that the move represents the perfect balance between personal development and competing for major honours.
Speaking after completing her transfer, Ayinde said she feels the club offers the right environment to keep improving while also challenging for trophies.
“It feels like this is the right place for me to continue developing but also compete and win more titles with the team,” she said.
The 30-year-old described herself as a hardworking and committed player, highlighting leadership and unpredictability as key aspects of her game.
“I am a happy person who works hard. When I am on the field, I always want to give my best and contribute with leadership. I am also not a player who is easy to predict, but I have a lot in my game,” Ayinde added.
Ayinde brings a wealth of experience to BK Häcken, having made her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in 2015 before representing Nigeria at two further World Cup tournaments. At continental level, she has been a key figure in Nigeria’s dominance, winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on three occasions with the Super Falcons.
Her arrival is expected to strengthen Häcken’s midfield as the club looks to maintain its competitive edge in Sweden and make an impact in European competitions.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
