Meet Chidimma Estefania Ifema Gonzales: The Ecuador international who is still eligible for Super Falcons 

Dual-national players are becoming more of a regular show in the fast growing landscape of the ever evolving women's game and the Super Falcons of Nigeria are definitely no exceptions.

The likes of Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, the Payne sisters (Toni and Nicole) as well as the likes of Onyinyechi Zogg are typical examples of the aforementioned paragraph and just like them, another relatively unfamiliar name emerges with the eligibility to don the colours of Nigeria. Her Name? Chidimma Ifema.

Born 12th July 1998 to a Nigerian aather and an Ecuadorian mother in Ecuador, Chidimma Estefania Ifema Gonzales is professional footballer who plays a midfielder or forward for Club Deportivo Universidad Católica Femenino in the Primera División Femenina, the women's top-flight in Ecuador. 

Before establishing herself as a regular in Universidad Católica, the 25-year-old previously wore the colours of Club Nañas in the Ecuadorian Superliga Femenina in 2020.

By virtue of being born to a Nigerian father,  she is eligible to wear the green and white colours of her paternal lineage if approached by the Nigerian Football Federation.

Internationally, she earned her first call-up to the Ecuadorian Senior Women's National team in late October for an international friendly double-header against Peru, and was an unused substitute in her country of birth's wins in both legs.

She would eventually get her first start the following year in yet another international friendly double-header against Uruguay, as she starred in both of her side's defeats across both legs.

Luckily for the NFF, there is still a fair chance to approach the former Club Nañas lynchpin as the two games in which she featured for the La Tri were friendlies and therefore does not cap-tie her to the Ecuadorian National team which means that she is still eligible to represent the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

An intelligent midfielder with a keen eye for running into spaces just behind the striker in buildup play whilst also possessing a dangerous threat in the opposition's box from resulting set-pieces.

If she were to be integrated into the current Super Falcons set up, Ifema could definitely provide a very healthy competition for regulars Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini in midfield.

Not just that, she could give Racing Louisville's Uchenna Kanu a serious run for her money as she's seriously been below par in recent outings for the nine time African queens since the Women's World Cup.

Ejim Kaycee

Photo Credit: fef.ec

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