Nigeria midfielder Rita Chikwelu scores a brace of headers on Saudi League debut

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria midfielder, Rita Chikwelu stepped on the field and showed her worth with two goals in her maiden appearance just few hours after sealing her switch from the Spanish side Levante Las Planas to Saudi club Al Shabab.

She scored two goals as Al Shabab succumbed to a 4-3 loss against Orthodox. The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead with Jafa scoring a brace within the first 19 minutes of action.

Five minutes into the second half, Naomi increased the lead to three before the visitors attempted a comeback.

Chikwelu reduced the deficit on the hour mark with a glancing header before she made it 3-2 two minutes later with a another brilliant header.

Despite the equaliser from Oriana Altuve in the 87th minute Orthodox had the last laugh as Naomi’s second goal of the gave in the additional minutes of the second half gave the host a 4-3 win.

Before quiting the national team at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, the 35-year-old had participated in the FIFA U-20 World Cup thrice in 2004, 2006 and 2008 before making her senior debut in 2006.

The two-time Africa Women’s Cup of Nations winner was a member of the Nigerian team to the 2008 Summer Olympics in China and also part of the country’s campaigns at the 2011 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.