KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Most student-athletes spend the summer before their senior year training and playing in league games. Last summer, however, Uchenna Kanu had much different plans. The forward from Southeastern University (Fla.) competed on the biggest stage a footballer can dream of, the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Paris.

Kanu earned her spot on the team after a 10-goal performance in the West African Football Union Women’s Cup. Not only did she help her nation’s home team to a championship, Kanu also received the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading scorer.

The 22-year-old enters her senior season at Southeastern well decorated. She is a two-time Sun Conference Player of the Year, two-time NAIA All-America and the 2018 United Soccer Coaches NAIA Player of the Year. During her three years with the Fire she scored 115 goals and recorded 32 assists and was the top goal-scoring collegiate soccer player, male or female, in any division in the nation.

The Abia, Nigeria native was featured in 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated as part of the “Faces in the Crowd” section which highlights outstanding amateur athletes. Kanu helped lead the Fire to their most successful season in program history recording an NAIA single-season record 54 goals and 132 points. The women’s soccer team made it to the semifinals of the 2018 NAIA National Championship, the furthest in school history.

Kanu played four games in the 2019 FIFA World Cup totaling 111 minutes. The games took place June 8-22 against Norway, Republic of Korea, France and Germany.

Despite the fame and national attention, Kanu remains humble and grateful.

“It is an honor for me as an athlete to play in the highest level of my career. I really appreciate the fact that I was not only given the opportunity to be part of the team but the chance to perform,” said Kanu. “It means a lot to me. Thanks to my teammates at SEU for their support and everyone who has taken part in preparing me for this historical course. I’m grateful!!”

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