Sports

All You Need To Know About Ann Chiejine; From Super Falcons Goalkeeper to Champion Coach

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 30th, 2025.

All You Need To Know About Ann Chiejine; From Super Falcons Goalkeeper to Champion Coach

She guarded Nigeria’s dream in 1998.

She helped build it again in 2024. 🧤🇳🇬

Ann Chiejine’s story is the stuff of legend—one marked by grit, talent, and relentless passion for Nigerian football.

At just 17, she made history as Nigeria’s first-ever goalkeeper at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, held in China. From 1991 to 2000, she remained the Super Falcons’ undisputed first-choice between the posts, lifting the African title in 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2000.

Her dedication was unmatched—even unknowingly playing in the 2000 Olympics while four months pregnant, a fact revealed to her only by FIFA’s medical team. Still, she pressed on, representing Nigeria once more at the 2000 Women’s AFCON while five months along.

That same tournament in South Africa turned hostile after Nigeria scored a second goal in the final. Furious fans began hurling objects onto the pitch, and Chiejine was struck by debris. She ran to the referee to protest—but was dismissed. When a rock landed near her, she picked it up, showed it to the referee, and shouted, “See! See!” The referee finally halted the match. Riot police intervened as violence escalated, with parts of the stadium vandalized and journalists’ vehicles destroyed. A broadcast showed a terrified young girl in the stands—a chilling reminder of the chaos.

Off the pitch, Ann was just as dynamic. She ran a hair salon and styled many of her teammates—including dying Mercy Akide’s hair green-and-white, and giving Florence Omagbemi a bold orange flame tint. Her signature bandana became a trend among young aspiring goalkeepers.

Though many believed she retired in the early 2000s, Ann made a comeback in 2004, briefly serving as second-choice goalkeeper behind Precious Dede. Before that, she had served as a welfare officer for Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos.

Throughout her playing career, she featured for numerous Nigerian clubs, including CN Okoli, Flying Babes, Kakanfo Queens, Jegede Babes, Rivers Angels, Flying Angels, Larry Angels, and Pelican Stars. She nearly secured a move to Arsenal Ladies, but visa issues at the British High Commission dashed that dream.

After her official retirement in 2005, Chiejine pursued coaching and obtained her certifications. She was part of the Super Falcons’ coaching staff at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup and served as goalkeeper trainer during Nigeria’s 2016 WAFCON victory. She also coached Romanian side CS Negrea Resita.

Such was her talent that the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) mistakenly listed her twice in their ranking of Africa’s greatest female players of the century—once under her maiden name Ann Agumanu (7 votes), and again as Ann Chiejine (14 votes). With 21 votes in total, she should have tied for first place with Nigerian icon Eucharia Uche.

Now, decades after first defending the nation’s goalposts, Chiejine returned to the bench—this time as goalkeeper coach—at the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco, where Nigeria once again lifted the trophy.

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Photo Description:

Squatting (L-R): Florence Omagbemi, Anne Mukoro, Ann Agumanu (Chiejine), Adaku Okoroafor, Diana Esther Nwaiwu

Standing (L-R): Omo-Love Branch, Nkiru Okosieme, Rita Nwadike, Eucharia Uche,

Phoebe, Ebimiekumo, Mavis Ogun