Faith Ikidi Michael born over 2 decades ago into the family of Mr & Mrs Dike Ikidi in Igbedi Community, Kolokuma-Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State, Nigeria is a Nigerian-Sweden based Professional Footballer who currently plays as a defender at Piteaif Clubside in pitea°, Sweden.
Faith Ikidi Michael is classified by pundits and legends as one of the best female defenders in the world and she is regarded as one of the greatest African Female Footballers of all time who has played for her country side Nigeria over a decade now and still counting.
A precious talent, Faith Ikidi Michael started playing football with her brothers at the barracks in Nigeria years ago in Edo State.
She continued playing in School Competitions which included the Novias Queens in 2003 before moving to Bayelsa Queens FC where she played 2 seasons with a fantastic performance.
Her impressive form saw her join the senior National team in 2002 where she saw herself play her first National game the under-19 Junior Women's World Cup in Thailand.
She travelled abroad after many years of playing in the local leagues in her country Nigeria to pursue her professional football career and became a first choice player to many clubs due to her numerous skills and talents.
Outlined below are some of her Local, National, International and Club Career engagements, caps and still counting;
▪Played the under 19 Junior Women's World Cup at Thailand in 2002
▪Played the Senior Women's World Cup at USA in 2003.
▪Gold Medalist in the African Women Championships at South Africa in 2004.
▪Player of the year Award Winner at Kleep Kvinne Club side in 2005.
▪Played at Qbikfc club, Sweden in 2006.
▪Played the under 20 Junior Women's World Cup Russia in 2006.
▪Gold Medalist at the African Women Championships Warri, Nigeria in 2006.
▪Played at the Olympics Athens Greece in 2004.
▪Played at a Swedish Club side, Linkoping from 2007 to 2009 and won the league for three consecutive times.
▪Played in the Senior Women's World Cup China in 2007.
▪Bronze Medalist in the 2008 African Women Championships in the Equatorial Guinea.
▪Played in 2008 Olympics at Beijing, China.
▪Played at Piteaif club, Sweden in 2011 and won the player of the year award for four consecutive times[2013, 2015, 2019 and 2020]
▪Played the 2011 Senior Women's World Cup in Germany.
▪Won the Swedish Federation best defender of the year in 2015.
▪Gold Medalist at the 2016 African Women Championships in Cameroon.
▪Won her second Swedish league title with her current club side Piteaif in the 2018/2019 UEFA Women's Champions League.
▪Gold Medalist at the African Women's Championships in Ghana.
▪Played at the 2019 Senior Women's World Cup in France.
By and Large, this multi talented Bayelsa born female Footballer of our time should be given a platform at the state level and beyond as a Football Ambassador to primarily source and develop grass root soccer talents in our rural communities and towns within Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Football Players of this magnitude should be reproduced in the hundreds in Bayelsa State through genuine mentorship and talents discovery thereby exposing them at international scenes in the nearest future.
Bravo dear Faith Ikidi Michael, our living and successful female football legend of our time.
Keep making Bayelsa State and Nigeria proud around the globe.
God bless you.
Nua Nua
Ado Ado
Alua Alua
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Pastor[Hon] Opu-uge Ogiriki
Public Affairs Analyst, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
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