AFC Toronto Extend Esther Okoronkwo’s Contract Through 2027

Canadian women’s side AFC Toronto have confirmed contract extensions for Nigeria forward Esther Okoronkwo and three other players as the club continues to build for sustained success in the Northern Super League (NSL).

Okoronkwo has committed her future to the Toronto-based club until 2027, following a standout inaugural season in which she played a central role in AFC Toronto’s rise as one of the league’s leading teams. The Nigerian forward enjoyed an exceptional year at both club and international level, helping the Super Falcons lift the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in July 2025.

She capped her international campaign in style, earning Player of the Match honours in the final after scoring once and providing two assists in Nigeria’s dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco.

At club level, the 28-year-old formed a potent attacking partnership with teenage Canadian forward Kaylee Hunter, as AFC Toronto finished the regular season as the highest-scoring team in the NSL with 42 goals. Okoronkwo contributed eight goals and 11 assists in 1,643 minutes, helping the club top the standings with a 16-6-3 record before narrowly losing 2–1 to Vancouver in the championship game.

In addition to Okoronkwo, AFC Toronto also announced contract extensions for Canadian midfielder Zoe Burns and forwards Kaila Novak and Lauren Rowe. Novak is now under contract through 2026, while Burns and Rowe have both signed extensions until 2027.

Confirming the renewals in a club statement, AFC Toronto said:
“Toronto, ON (January 15, 2025) – AFC Toronto today announced a series of key roster decisions ahead of the 2026 Northern Super League season. #9 – Esther Okoronkwo | Forward, Nigeria – Contract Extension through 2027.”

Sporting Director Billy Wilson welcomed the players’ commitment to the project.
“We’re delighted that Esther, Lauren, Zoe, and Kaila have all committed to extending their time with AFC Toronto,” Wilson said. “Their commitment reinforces our belief in this group and our ambition as we continue to build toward the future.”

With these extensions, AFC Toronto now have 20 players under contract as preparations begin for the next NSL campaign. Following a strong debut season, the club continues to position itself as one of the flagship teams in Canada’s top-tier women’s competition.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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