When it comes to freestyle football, few athletes on the African continent carry the historic legacy and unmatched skill of Evelyn Okafor. A trailblazer who has rewritten the record books for women in the sport, Okafor boasts an extraordinary resume that includes four national championship titles in her home country of Nigeria, three consecutive African crowns, and a landmark achievement as the first African woman ever to earn a spot at the World Freestyle Football Championship.
What began as a personal passion for the sport has evolved into a full-time professional career for Okafor, who credits her early inspiration to Rasheedat Ajibade, captain of Nigeria’s beloved Super Falcons national women’s football team. Ajibade’s example of excellence and resilience pushed Okafor to hone her craft, combining jaw-dropping technical tricks, creative improvisation, and relentless determination to rise through the ranks of competitive freestyle football.
Today, beyond competing on the global stage, Okafor is committed to passing her knowledge on to new aspiring freestylers. In this feature, she walks viewers through some of her signature, fan-favorite freestyle fundamentals – from the challenging trick of balancing a regulation football on one’s neck to the iconic, crowd-pleasing “around the world” move. More than just a skills tutorial, Okafor uses the platform to share a core message: young girls deserve space to chase big, ambitious dreams in sports, regardless of historical barriers or underrepresentation.
Whether you’re a seasoned freestyle footballer looking to sharpen your basics or a newcomer curious about the art of the sport, Okafor’s tutorial invites audiences to test their own skills, learn from a champion, and join her movement to expand opportunities for women in freestyle football. This segment was produced by Isaiah Akinremi and Tom Santorelli, with filming led by Monday Idara and editing by Aaron Akinyemi, published 14 hours ago under BBC Sport’s Africa Sport section.