Benfica sign Nigeria starlet Janet Akekoromowei after MVP season at Bayelsa Queens

Benfica have signed highly rated Nigeria forward Janet Akekoromowei from Bayelsa Queens, securing one of African women’s football’s most promising young talents after her standout season in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).

Teenager joins Portuguese champions

The 18-year-old attacker, who has been voted the NWFL’s Most Valuable Player, links up with the Portuguese champions following a breakthrough campaign in Nigeria’s top division.

Akekoromowei, a key figure for Bayelsa Queens last season, now embarks on her first spell in European football with the Lisbon club, who are seeking to strengthen their dominance domestically and enhance their profile on the continental stage.

The move underlines Benfica’s growing commitment to scouting emerging talent from Africa, particularly from Nigeria, whose women’s teams have consistently produced elite players at youth and senior levels.

From injury setback to European move

Before Benfica made their move, Akekoromowei had drawn attention from Spanish giants Barcelona. However, that prospective transfer collapsed after she picked up an injury while on international duty in February.

Despite that setback, her stock has continued to rise, with Benfica now stepping in to offer the forward a route into European competition.

The transfer represents a major personal milestone for Akekoromowei, whose rapid progress has come against the backdrop of a highly competitive Nigerian league and intense scrutiny on young prospects looking to make the step up to Europe.

World Cup platform with Falconets

Akekoromowei’s performances have not been confined to club level. She featured for Nigeria at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, appearing in three matches for the Falconets.

Her displays at the tournament reinforced her reputation as a technically gifted and powerful forward capable of performing on the global stage.

In addition to her youth appearances, the striker has already been capped by Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, an achievement that further highlights her rapid ascent through the country’s footballing ranks.

Rising star of Nigerian women’s football

Her journey from the NWFL to one of Europe’s most recognisable clubs is being seen in Nigeria as another marker of the growing strength and export potential of the women’s game in the country.

Akekoromowei’s switch to Benfica is expected to inspire other young players in the NWFL, where clubs such as Bayelsa Queens have become important springboards for talent heading to Europe.

While details of the contract have not been publicly disclosed, the transfer is being framed as a crucial step both for the player’s development and for Benfica’s ambitions in women’s football, as they continue to build a squad equipped for sustained success at home and abroad.

Niyi Busari is the Publisher, CEO of BSN Sports Concept.