SEASON zine Meets: Michelle Alozie on a huge women’s football summer, the Super Falcons’ legacy, and her chocolate French curl braids
Words Nali Simukulwa
Images courtesy of Football Case Study: Andrea Vílchez, Jinane Ennasri and Matthew David Stith
Michelle Alozie celebrating winning WAFCON 2024 with Nigeria. Images courtesy of Football Case Study: Andrea Vílchez, Jinane Ennasri and Matthew David Stith
When Michelle Alozie logs into our Zoom call, her demeanour is laid-back and warm. Perhaps overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat the home team in the Total Energies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 final is the sort of challenge whose conquest teaches an unshakeable zen. “In the whole arena of tens of thousands of people, you could just see this tiny green strip of Nigerian fans who were giving us the energy we needed to get through the ninety minutes, it was amazing,” the forward-turned-defender shares.
Days before our conversation, Alozie’s side lifted their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy, a historic achievement proudly referred to by Nigerians as ‘Mission X’. Early on in the competition, the team faced criticism for lacklustre performances against Botswana, Tunisia and Algeria, despite topping their group without conceding a single goal. A dominant quarter-final showing saw them thrash Zambia 5-0, silencing doubters. A California native whose parents hail from Imo state, Alozie speaks proudly of her Nigerian heritage. She debuted for the Super Falcons in 2021, finding her place in the squad after Nigeria’s head coach paid an impromptu visit to her National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club side, Houston Dash.
Since then, Alozie’s star has risen; she played every minute of the side’s run at the 2023 Fifa World Cup and featured at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the semi-final of WAFCON 2024, the 28-year-old came up big with a 94th-minute game-winner against South Africa to seal the Super Falcons’ place in the final. “It's definitely a historic one for us to be able to add to Nigeria’s dominance in women’s football,” says Alozie, reflecting on the tournament win. “Celebrating with the fans was our chance to give our thanks to the community who support us and champion the women‘s game in Africa.”
Off the pitch, Alozie and her teammates won hearts on TikTok throughout the tournament with carefree videos of players dancing between mealtimes and training sessions, reaching millions of views. “I feel like some people love it and some hate it that we’re on socials so much, but we can't help it because we’re so Gen Z,” Alozie says. “It's fun to bond by filming these silly videos together because you get to know people off the field, and it strengthens our on-field relationships. I can’t wait for us influencers to continue our Snapchat and TikTok journeys over tournaments to come.”
Visibility is nothing new for Alozie who featured in the inaugural series of The Off Season, a reality show chronicling the lives of 11 NWSL players during their extended break. A commanding online presence has become the norm in women’s sports with increasing numbers of athletes using their platforms to market themselves and take control of their narratives — a familiar experience to Alozie who took to X to meme the moment she was fouled by fellow Nike athlete and SEASON zine 09 cover star Lauren James when Nigeria faced the Lionesses during the 2023 World Cup. She quelled a racially charged media frenzy which sought to pit the two Black athletes against one another.
With social media being the preferred method of consuming football content for younger fans, tournament social media buzz often begins months before a ball is kicked. WAFCON faced criticism for its limited visibility and broadcast coverage which posed access difficulties for those in the UK, Canada, and parts of Europe. Kit releases, however, were one method used to drum up hype leading into the competition. Nike, who facilitated our chat with Alozie, released their women’s national team shirts in May at a glitzy reveal party in London. British musician Ms Banks repped the Super Falcons, styled in the new jersey which pays homage to Nigeria’s classic solid green, featuring a central crest and swoosh.
While kit is a game day non-negotiable, Alozie finds other methods to express her personality. In men’s football, players using their hair as a mode of self expression is well recorded, and discourse surrounding these Women’s Euros has highlighted how protective styles took centre stage, reflecting the competition’s increasing diversity. What these narratives have in common is their emphasis on African diaspora communities. For players from the countries where these styles originate, Alozie shares how hair is central, “I was thinking about which hairstyle to do for WAFCON for the longest time before I settled on this brown French curl. It’s so important and people think about it a lot. Historically, it's definitely been a trend throughout African football. My teammates Rash (Rasheedat Ajibade), Debby (Deborah Abiodun) and Asisat (Oshoala) are always doing fun dyes for game days. Having braids just makes my hair super easy to style, it gives me one less thing to think about.”
Together, we move on to what this summer has meant for the global growth of women’s football. With the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, WAFCON and Copa América Féminina taking place simultaneously, comparison seems inevitable. “I have so many club teammates playing in other tournaments. There's been a big spotlight on the Euros as it's broken a few attendance records. Players have also been calling attention to the improvements needed in Copa América which is important.” Amidst the football, disparities have come to the fore, the Lionesses’ victory in the Women’s Euros final was Britain’s most-watched TV moment of 2025 so far, with the tournament smashing on-the-ground attendance records in Switzerland. While in Ecuador, players at Copa América spoke out about inadequate warm–up facilities and the lack of VAR.
Advancements in the game around the world spur Alozie’s ambitions for Nigeria, “Being part of [team] Nigeria amidst the African football landscape, we’re in a space where as women, we’re fighting for more of a voice, more equality, and more eyes on our sport. I lean on my teammates in South America who are also struggling with the same thing. It lets us collaborate and learn from each other to figure out how we can drive change and make the game better for future girls who play after us.” In the push for improved playing standards and increased professionalisation, Alozie hopes a high tide can raise all ships. “I feel privileged to be a player right now and I hope that more attention on the women’s game can bring more change and allow for a more even playing field for players around the world.”
As our conversation draws to a close, I ask Alozie about the lasting impact of this tournament as she winds down from the well-documented on-pitch celebrations, and enjoys some rest on holiday in Europe. Her response shines with a grounded humility. “Overcoming adversity. We didn’t have too much of it early on in the competition but going down in a final, being able to stay calm and just trust in our preparation and God’s preparation taught us all a lesson. But I also think I'm going to hold on to how fun it was. It had its stressful moments but overall, the experience has reminded me of why I play in the first place.” @alozieee
Michelle Alozie celebrating winning WAFCON 2024 with her Nigeria teammates. Images courtesy of Football Case Study: Andrea Vílchez, Jinane Ennasri and Matthew David Stith