Uchenna Kanu's soccer journey from Nigeria to Racing Louisville FC to Paris Olympics 2024

The long wait is over.

It's been 16 years since Nigeria's women's soccer team competed in the Olympics, but now the squad is back, and Racing Louisville FC's Uchenna Kanu will play for her country.

"The Naija (Nigerian) blood coming together from all over the world. Knowing that we're here for one goal, knowing that we're here to represent our country, bring in different cultures, different things on and off the field, just to put it together and make one big team. ... I think it's huge for us as players to, first of all, be grateful for the opportunity," Kanu said.

"I believe my team is a team to beat worldwide, not just in Africa. So I'm proud of my team and teammates, and I'm really happy to be a part of that team that broke the jinx of 16 years."

Nigeria, which clinched one of the final two Olympic soccer berths, is scheduled to play Brazil in a Group C match July 25 at Bordeaux Stadium, and the gold medal match is set for Aug. 10. Other Group C teams include Spain and Japan.

The 26-year-old has plenty of experience on the international stage. Kanu played in the 2014 FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup and the 2014 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup. She made her senior debut in 2019 on the national team, and most recently, she played in the 2023 World Cup.

Kanu has played on three continents and in four professional soccer leagues.

'Chasing my dream'

Her soccer journey hasn't been easy; it has been lonely at times, but her love for the game kept her going.

Kanu has played soccer since childhood, but not everyone in her family supported her aspirations to become a professional soccer player.

"My dad didn't 100% support me in playing. I knew I wasn't going to give up on soccer. I wanted to make sure that I proved to him that I was chasing my dream," Kanu said.

"I feel like it's kind of like a typical thing for African or Nigerian parents tend to be hard on the kids, especially females, when it comes to doing things that they think it's a man's job," Kanu said. "They always think it's kind of like a thing where a majority of people think that when you're into sports, you're not going to get married or you're not going to have kids, and it's always that traditional thinking."

Her mother always supported her dreams of playing soccer. Kanu said if it weren't for her mother's support, she probably would not be playing now because it would've been too difficult.

Kanu was 12 or 13 when her father died, and she dropped out of school and started helping her mother sell items in the market to help provide for the family.

Kanu would still find time to go out to the field to play soccer with the boys.

Coming to the U.S.

Close to 2015, she received a letter from Southeastern University offering her a scholarship to play soccer. Kanu thought it was a scam because she couldn't believe someone would pay her way to attend school.

She ignored the emails for all of 2015, and then, in 2016, she started replying to them and said, "If they start asking me for money, I'll run for my life."

Southeastern took care of her flight and visa to the United States. To become eligible, Kanu had to go to secondary school and take specific tests equivalent to the GED.

Transitioning to school in the U.S. was tougher than Kanu expected. She wasn't used to the technology-heavy classes, the school schedule, soccer practice and the challenges of being away from her family for the first time.

"I thought about going back home, (but) what would I gain?" Kanu said. "I'll just stay and grind it out. I'm proud of myself that I didn't give up, and here I am now."

As a junior, Kanu broke NAIA single-season records for goals (57) and points (132).

Kanu won the Sun Conference and the United Soccer Coaches NAIA Player of the Year awards. That summer, she played on Nigeria's national team during the 2019 World Cup.

All the world's a stage

Kanu went on to play in Spain, Sweden and Mexico before she signed with Racing in 2023.

In her last year in Sweden, she scored 14 goals in 20 matches, placing her second in the Damallsvenskan league for goals scored.

At the conclusion of the season, she changed her number to 29 to honor her late dad, who died on Sept. 29, 2009.

Kanu played one year in Mexico for Tigres UANL; she recorded 20 goals in 30 appearances, and her squad won the Liga MX Femenil's Torneo Apertura trophy.

"(Kanu's) charisma, her personality, the locker room, just really embraced by the Mexican people in general, not only in the team in the squad itself but society and the fans as a whole," said Carmelina Moscato, who was an assistant coach for Tigres and is now an assistant with Racing Louisville.

"On the pitch, very dynamic winger, I mean, could play both sides, seven or the 11. Either side of the winger position, an absolute menace on the dribble and deadly at the back post for crosses and receiving, so she has some skill sets that stand out, but she's just an overall really talented, hardworking player."

Kanu's only goal in 2023 was in the Challenge Cup against the Chicago Red Stars.

So far this season, she notched four goals in nine matches.

Kanu hopes to continue to see her game grow in what she calls the toughest league in the world. She also hopes her mom will be able to come to the U.S. to watch her play.

"When I graduated college, I applied for a visa for her to attend my graduation, but she was denied a visa to come to the United States. That was really sad, but I hope that next time I try, I am able to make that happen for her and for myself," Kanu said.

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.