Simisola Feyishayo Awujo, a young midfielder of Nigerian heritage, has begun attracting attention following her impressive display for Manchester United Women in their Women’s FA Cup clash against Chelsea Women.
The 22-year-old came off the bench during the fifth-round encounter at Kingsmeadow and made an instant impact, scoring just three minutes after her introduction to restore parity for her side. Chelsea had taken the lead late in the game before Awujo capitalised on a loose ball from a free kick situation to fire home the equaliser.
Her goal briefly revived Manchester United’s hopes in a tightly contested encounter, drawing attention to the midfielder’s composure and positional awareness in a high-pressure moment.
Awujo, born on September 23, 2003, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Nigerian parents, grew up in Canada and later opted to represent the Canadian national team through her mother’s citizenship. Despite her young age, she has already featured on the global stage, including appearances at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
She joined Manchester United Women in August 2024 on a deal scheduled to run until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the FA Cup strike marking her second goal for the club since arriving.
Although Manchester United eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat after a late extra-time winner, Awujo’s performance remained one of the standout moments of the match, further highlighting her growing influence within the squad.
Reacting after the game, the midfielder thanked supporters on social media, writing that the team “fought until the very end” while expressing appreciation to travelling fans and sharing a message of faith.
