Annabelle Chukwu

Chinonyerem Annabelle Chukwu (born February 8, 2007) is a soccer player who plays for NDC Ontario in League1 Ontario. Born in England, she represents Canada at international level.

Annabelle Chukwu
Personal information
Full name Chinonyerem Annabelle Chukwu
Date of birth (2007-02-08) February 8, 2007
Place of birth Gravesend, England
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2017–2022 Ottawa South United
2022– NDC Ontario
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– NDC Ontario 8 (5)
International career‡
2022 Canada U15 2+ (1)
2022– Canada U17 4 (6)
2023– Canada U20 9 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 19, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 26, 2023

Early life

Chukwu was born in England and moved to Ottawa, Ontario in Canada in 2016.[1] In 2017, she began playing youth soccer with Ottawa South United,[2] after being spotted playing in a school soccer tournament and being invited to try out for the team.[3] In 2021, she helped OSU win the U-14 Girls OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield.[4] In August 2022, she joined the NDC Ontario program.[5]

Club career

In 2023, she began playing with NDC Ontario in League1 Ontario.[6] On July 16, 2023, Chukwu scored her first five goals in the league, scoring five goals in a 10-1 victory over ProStars FC.[7]

International career

In 2022, she was named to the Canada U15 team for the 2022 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship.[1] In her first game on August 1, she scored against Jamaica in a 5-0 victory.[8] In the next match against Puerto Rico, she earned an assist on a goal by her twin sister, Isabelle.[9]

She was then named to the Canada U17 team for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She made her debut on October 12 against France U17 coming on as a substitute and scored her first goal to help the team earn a 1-1 draw.[10][11]

She was then called up to the Canada senior team for the first time, at age 15, for friendlies against Brazil in November 2022.[12][13]

In 2023, she was named to the Canada U20 team for the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.[14] She scored twice in extra time in the bronze medal game to help Canada defeat Costa Rica U20 5-3, winning the bronze and qualifying the squad for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[15][16] In September, she earned another senior team callup for the CONCACAF Olympic qualification playoffs, following injury to Deanne Rose.[17]

Personal life

Chukwu has a twin sister, Isabelle Chukwu, who also plays for the Canadian youth national team.[9]

References
  1. Annabelle Chukwu at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. Diamandas, Ethan (December 15, 2021). "Ottawa's star soccer sisters dominating Ontario youth ranks". Ottawa Sportspages.
  3. Colley, Mark (November 18, 2022). "Ottawa strikers Larisey, Chukwu take varied paths to Canadian senior women's soccer team". Ottawa Sportspages.
  4. "Chukwu sisters combine for three goals to lead OSU to U-14 OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield win". Ontario Soccer Association. November 1, 2021.
  5. Colley, Mark (June 22, 2022). "'This is success': Five OSU players headed to national development centre in Toronto". Ottawa Sportspages.
  6. "Annabelle Chukwu 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  7. "Weekly Rewind". League1 Ontario. July 18, 2023.
  8. "Canada blanks Jamaica 5-0 to open play at CONCACAF U-15 Women's Championship". Toronto Star. August 1, 2022.
  9. "Twin sisters combine on goal as Canada downs Puerto Rico at CONCACAF U-15 tourney". TSN. August 2, 2022.
  10. Abayomi, Tosin (October 12, 2022). "FIFA U-17 WWC: 15-year-old Chukwu inspires Canada to 1-1 draw against France". Pulse.
  11. "Chukwu goal helps Canada earn point in opener vs. France". CONCACAF. October 12, 2022.
  12. "Canada coach Bev Priestman calls up three youngsters for Brazil women's friendlies". Sportsnet. October 31, 2022.
  13. "Allen, Chukwu and Ottey earn first Canada call ups". Canadian Soccer Association. November 6, 2022.
  14. "Annabelle Chukwu, 16, could be Canada's next great soccer talent". CBC Sports. June 9, 2023.
  15. Cleary, Martin (June 5, 2023). "High Achievers Weekend Wrap: Annabelle Chukwu scores twice in extra time, sends Canada to FIFA U20 World Cup". Ottawa Sportspages.
  16. Hendry, Glenn. "Whitby's Smith bags equalizer, Chukwu scores twice in ET; Canada qualifies for U20 World Cup". inDurham.
  17. "CWNT will be without Riviere, Rose for Olympic qualifiers vs. Jamaica". Sportsnet. September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
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