Nigeria U-20 women’s forward Janet Akekoromowei has opted to delay a potential move to Europe as she concentrates fully on helping the Falconets qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Completesports.com reports.

The highly rated attacker has recently attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Benfica, sparking speculation about an imminent move abroad. However, a senior team official has dismissed claims that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) blocked her from travelling for trials.

According to the source, Akekoromowei’s decision is purely personal and driven by ambition on the international stage.

“Janet is focused on helping the team qualify for the World Cup — that’s her main ambition for now. There is nothing true about the NFF seizing her passport. The NFF does not even have the right to do that,” the official said.

The source added that the 18-year-old believes a strong showing at the World Cup would significantly enhance her profile and open bigger opportunities in the future.

“She feels that performing well at the World Cup will further boost her career, so there’s no need to rush things. She is a fantastic player with a very bright future.”

Akekoromowei recently underlined her importance to the Falconets by scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 friendly victory over FC Robo Queens. She was also part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

At club level, the Bayelsa Queens forward enjoyed a remarkable season, earning the Most Valuable Player award in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), further cementing her status as one of the country’s most exciting young talents.