“I want to play in Chelsea” – Nigeria’s Animashaun reveals love for James, Ronaldo, Mbappe ahead of USA tie

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team winger Aishat Animashaun has shared her dream of one day playing for Chelsea, a team she deeply admires, Soccernet.ng reports.

As the Flamingos prepare to face the United States in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals, Animashaun’s talent and ambition have brought her into the spotlight, both for her play on the field and her future aspirations.

The 16-year-old has helped power Nigeria to a flawless group-stage finish, contributing an assist in their commanding 4-0 victory over Ecuador.

Reflecting on her football journey, Animashaun credits her mother as her initial inspiration.

“I was motivated by my mom,” she told FIFA, revealing her early passion for football as the youngest in her family.

Driven by a love of speed and her determination to emulate role models like Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo, Animashaun has steadily honed her skills as a winger.

“I like running,” she explained. “Mbappe is my role model… I like doing what he does. I watch Ronaldo too.”

Under the guidance of her coaches, Animashaun has embraced the demands of her position, building both pace and skill.

“They told me if you want to be a winger, you have to have skills and you have to have pace. To beat your opponent, you need pace,” she shared.

Although she enjoys scoring goals, Animashaun feels an even greater satisfaction in assisting her teammates.

“I love assisting. Because if I assist, I will be happier. When it’s not possible for me to score, I would rather give the person that is very free to score,” she explained.

Her unselfish play has been instrumental in Nigeria’s impressive nine-goal haul in three matches, setting up an enticing quarterfinal against the USA on Saturday.

For Animashaun, the ultimate dream is to play for Chelsea, driven by her admiration for Chelsea’s Lauren James.

“I want to go higher. I want to play in Chelsea because I'm a Chelsea fan,” Animashaun confessed.

“That’s actually my dream team. I like the way they play… Lauren James is my role model.”

Though she acknowledges James and Mbappe bring different styles to the game, she admires their shared spirit and determination, explaining,

“When Mbappe holds the ball, nobody can get it. Likewise, Lauren James too.”

With an eye on the future, Animashaun has set her sights high, including potentially joining Nigeria’s senior squad for the 2027 World Cup.

“It’s hard, but if you are determined, focused, sure you can be there,” she said.

As Nigeria face a rematch against the USA — a team they defeated on penalties in the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals — Animashaun’s determination and skills could be critical.