SCORENigeria can report that Falconets striker Janet ‘Semenya’ Akekoromowei has fired a passionate letter to FIFA asking them to intervene after her club Benfica stopped her from representing Nigeria at this year’s U20 World Cup in Poland.
Semenya is already in Poland for the World Cup, which gets underway early next month, but her Portuguese club have since ordered she return to base or have her contract terminated.
The player, who has also been capped by both the Flamingos and Super Falcons, has now sought the help of FIFA to resolve this logjam.
In a letter to the FIFA players status department, which was sighted by SCORENigeria, Semenya said: “I am currently in Poland with the Nigerian delegation in preparation for tournament (2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup).
“However, Benfica has informed the NFF that it will not release me and is demanding that I return immediately to Lisbon.
“This situation places my participation in the competition at serious risk, especially as the deadline for the player registration is imminent.”
She therefore asked FIFA to review Benfica refusal to allow her feature at the World Cup and get the club to release her for the competition.
