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Gbeminiyi Ogunleye
1 week ago
Overview
Tosin Demehin: Super Falcons star reflects on late mum, WAFCON glory
When Tosin Demehin lifted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) trophy with the Super Falcons in Morocco, it was more than just the joy of winning a gold medal.
For the young defender, it was also a moment to think about her late mother, who once did not believe football was the right path for her.
Today, Demehin is not only a continental champion but also one of Nigeria’s rising stars.
At just 23, she has already achieved what many players only dream of.
Yet, behind the medals and applause lies a story of doubt, struggle, and determination.
Early days
Demehin started playing football like many Nigerian kids — on the streets, with friends, chasing the ball for fun.
But even then, she carried a seriousness about the game that set her apart.
Her father encouraged her passion, but her late mother was not convinced. “My dad supported me, but my mum didn’t,” Demehin said in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES. “She thought if a girl played football, it wasn’t as good as when a boy played. She didn’t think it was for me.”
It was a difficult hurdle for a young girl with big dreams. Still, Demehin kept playing, determined to prove that football could take her far.
Rising through the ranks
Having started at Sunshine Queens, her breakthrough came at Rivers Angels, one of Nigeria’s biggest women’s clubs, where her strong defending and calm presence on the ball quickly stood out.
Her performances earned her a call-up to the Falconets, Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team.
In 2022, she shone brightly at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, where Nigeria reached the quarterfinals.
