Rita Akarekor

Rita Akarekor (born 13 February 2001^[1]) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Delta Queens in the Nigeria Women Premier League, and Nigeria women's national football team as a goalkeeper. She was adjudged the best goalkeeper in the 2016 Nigeria Women Premier League, and was the only player in her position nominated as the most valuable player in the league.^[2]

Rita Akarekor

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-02-13) 13 February 2001 (age 24)
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Delta Queens
International career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Nigeria

Playing career

Club

During the 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League, Akarekor scored a goal in her side's two–goal win over Adamawa Queens. She explained that it has been her desire for a while to score a competitive goal in the league.^[3] In April 2017, Akarekor was in the lineup that defeated relegation threatened Saadatu Amazons, 2-1. A goal from Amazons ended her clean sheet from two previous games.^[4] In July 2017, the penultimate game before the end of the regular season, Akarekor recorded another clean sheet against Adamawa Queens at the Atiku Abubakar Stadium.^[5]

International career

Akarekor featured in the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations winning team.

2016 AFCON Tournament: Participated in the main 2016 tournament in Cameroon^[6] as one of the youngest squad members—born in 2001, she was just 15 at the time

Falconets (U‑20)

2018 U‑20 World Cup: Rita Akarekor was selected as a goalkeeper for the Falconets^[7] in the 2018 FIFA U‑20 Women’s World Cup held in France—alongside notable U‑17 and club keepers .