Evelyn Nwabuoku: A True Leader

Leadership is a call to service, it entails carrying the physical and emotional burden of others and helping them actualise their potentials.


The thought of a captain evokes the mental picture of someone wearing an armband but being a captain is much more than that.

Super Falcons skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku is a true captain. When she was chosen by coach Edwin Okon to be the captain of the senior women's national team, it did not go down well with some people who felt that such a decision was biased, when we consider that there were older and more experienced players in the team.

Evelyn has justified the decision of the coach. A humble lady who is serious minded. I have had the opportunity of asking people who know her about one outstanding quality of Evelyn, 80% of the responses were the same; Humility and Courtesy.

She is a modest player as seen when talking about the chances of the team she leads. She is a captain that has earned the respect of her team mates, as she fosters unity in the team, defying the age factor. She is graceful and believes in equality of all persons and the need to accord dignity to everyone.

The former Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels star really did win the hearts of Nigerians as she led the Falcons to their 7th African Women's title in Namibia 2014. It is of little surprise that when she was leaving for BIIK Kazygurt of Kazakhstan, she received a lot of goodwill messages from teeming and well meaning fans. Whenever she is optimistic about something, it is contagious.

As the Super Falcons prepare to showcase their strength and skills in Canada, Nigerians are looking up to her to provide sterling and spirited leadership that will spur the team to greater heights. 

She is a defensive midfielder, but very versatile and that's the delight of any coach. She is a rock in midfield, cautiously going forward to unleash those trademark bullets packed in her boot.

 One of the best Nigerian midfielder always lurking dangerously in time of set-pieces, lying in wait for loose balls, waiting to release missiles as she did in Abuja against Mali,having also scored a goal in a Fed cup match from about 40 yards against Pelican Stars in 2013.

By Bethel Kalu