Janet Akekoromowei: Falconets star set for Benfica move after injury comeback

Falconets forward Janet Akekoromowei is close to sealing a long-term transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica, in a move that would cap a dramatic return from a serious injury and propel the teenage striker into the heart of European women’s football.

Benfica switch after Barcelona interest

The 18-year-old Nigeria youth international is finalising the details of a deal with the Portuguese champions, one of the most powerful and ambitious women’s clubs in Europe.

Akekoromowei had previously been on the verge of joining Spanish powerhouse Barcelona Femeni before injury halted the move. The setback came during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Senegal in Abeokuta in February, when she suffered a significant injury that forced her to suspend plans for a switch to Europe.

The Benfica move now represents a major breakthrough for the Bayelsa Queens forward, who has fought her way back to full fitness and top form.

From injury blow to MVP season

Akekoromowei’s career trajectory seemed to be accelerating rapidly before her injury. Highly regarded for her movement, physical presence and eye for goal, she had attracted interest from leading European clubs as she emerged as one of the standout attackers in Nigerian women’s football.

After recovering, she returned to domestic action in style. The striker enjoyed an outstanding 2025 season with Bayelsa Queens, where her performances earned her the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Most Valuable Player award. Her prolific campaign underlined her status as one of the brightest young forwards in the country.

Her displays at club level followed an impressive rise through the national team ranks. Akekoromowei featured for Nigeria at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, playing in three matches for the Falconets on the global stage.

Rising star already a Super Falcons international

Despite her age, Akekoromowei has already broken into the senior national team. She has been capped by the Super Falcons, a rare achievement for a teenager, and is widely viewed as a key part of Nigeria’s attacking future.

Her growing profile and impending move to Benfica have prompted debate among some Nigerian fans over her current role with the national side. One supporter wrote:

“Janet Benfi, Janet Barca, the same Janet ready to play in the Champions League, Janet let me wait for the completion so that i can sing a melody for you and tell Akor Adams say we sabi Shakor with the big clubs.

So why did Super Falcons Coach, Justin Madugu, not invite Janet for his WAFCON 2026 squad to unleash this outstanding striker to terrorise African nation defences at this Wafcon, starting this weekend?

I thought she was carrying injury, but this Benfica move shows she has fully recovered. Very strange from Coach Madugu!”

The fan’s comments reflect growing surprise in some quarters that Akekoromowei has not been called up for the Super Falcons’ squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which begins this weekend.

European platform and Champions League ambition

Benfica’s women’s team have become a dominant force in Portugal and regular contenders in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. A move there would give Akekoromowei a platform at the highest level of European club competition and an opportunity to test herself against some of the continent’s leading defenders.

For the forward, the switch would mark both a personal and professional milestone: the realisation of her long-held ambition to play in Europe, and proof of a successful comeback from an injury that once threatened to stall her burgeoning career.

While the transfer has yet to be officially announced by Benfica, all indications point to Akekoromowei beginning a new chapter in Lisbon – one that could further enhance her reputation and sharpen the debate over her role with the Super Falcons as Nigeria look to the future.