Who is Favour Omenazu? Meet the MK Dons captain earning her first Super Falcons call-up

MK Dons captain Favour Omenazu has earned her first senior invitation to the Super Falcons for Nigeria’s 2028 Olympic qualifying double-header against Comoros on October 9 and 13.

The call-up, confirmed by MK Dons, makes her the first Nigerian player in the history of the club to be invited to the Super Falcons set-up.

Born and raised in England by parents of Nigerian roots, the 24-year-old is eligible to play for the two nations.

However, a few months ago, Omenazu made public her desire to play international football for the ten-time African champions.

Now, she is set to play her part as Nigeria take the first step towards qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Who is Favour Omenazu?

Born on March 8, 2002, Favour Omenazu is a Nigerian-born, England-raised footballer who can operate in midfield or at right-back.

Her father played as a goalkeeper, while her mother also played football in defence. Omenazu is one of six siblings, with three sisters and two brothers, and she has previously revealed that all of them played football.

The competitive streak arrived early. At primary school, Omenazu played in a girls’ team but also spent her spare time playing with boys.

She recalled enjoying the challenge of proving that she could compete physically and technically in an environment where some opponents underestimated her. That edge followed her into senior football.

Favour Omenazu: The Leicester City pathway

Omenazu’s development began in the Leicester City women’s system. It was an important early step in a journey that would eventually take her into senior football outside England’s professional elite.

At Leicester, the young Nigerian developed many of the qualities that would define her career. She was first raised to be a midfielder, particularly a number eight.

However, her coaches soon recognised her athleticism, defensive instincts and strength which made her also effective at right-back. Many of the Woman of the Match awards she won came while playing as a midfielder.

Omenazu’s best bit is done as an attacking-minded midfielder tasked with winning possession, breaking up opposition attacks and driving her team forward.

That combination has given her a footballing identity that is difficult to squeeze into one position.

Favour Omenazu at Northampton

Omenazu continued her development at Northampton Town, a club she joined after leaving Leicester City youth setup and Women’s Reserve Squad. At Northampton Town she stepped into senior football and began testing herself against players with more experience.

The 2022-23 campaign was particularly important. Northampton were playing their first season in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, the fourth tier of the English women’s football pyramid.

Omenazu made 23 appearances and scored three goals during that campaign, which included a brief developmental spell at Bugbrooke St Michaels.

One of her favourite moments came earlier, in November, when she scored the winning goal against Lincoln City at Sixfields Stadium. Omenazu also scored in the club’s 2-1 defeat to Stourbridge in that historic fourth-tier campaign.

Favour Omenazu at Stourbridge

After spending a season at Northampton, Omenazu moved to Stourbridge in August 2023, to embrace another challenge. She joined the club in 2023 after impressing against them while playing for Northampton.

Stourbridge had won the FA Women’s National League Division Midlands and were moving into the Northern Premier Division, taking Omenazu with them into the third tier. It was a move that helped the youngster move up the English football pyramid.

Stourbridge had noticed her before she realised the club were interested. Their manager Andy Fisher invited her to meet the team, and the transfer gave Omenazu another chance to measure herself against stronger opposition.

She went on to make 21 appearances and score twice for Stourbridge in the 2023-24 season.

Her performances included a memorable encounter against Newcastle United in November 2023, when she returned to the starting XI in a difficult Northern Premier Division fixture at St James’ Park.

Favour Omenazu beyond the football

While football offered Omenazu a lot, the young girl was equally keen to build a life outside of the pitch.

In 2023, she balanced semi-professional football with employment and postgraduate study. She worked in the fraud department at Barclaycard while completing a master’s degree in psychology at the University of Northampton.

Her training days could begin at 6am. She would attend strength and conditioning sessions at the university before work, then travel by public transport to training when she had a Stourbridge session. The journey to Dudley could take about two hours, with her returning home around 11pm.

Favour Omenazu, MK Dons captain

Omenazu’s next move took her to Milton Keynes Dons Women, a club she joined ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Omenazu settled down quickly in Milton Keynes and, shortly after, she was appointed as MK Dons captain ahead of the 2025/26 season.

She wore the armband during the club’s transition into a new era under the MK Dons structure. She was among the players who signed new contracts as the club prepared for the campaign under head coach Stephen Healy.

It was another memorable season for Omenazu as she won the club’s Community Ambassador and Player of the Year award for 2025/26.

She scored four goals in 25 games for MK Dons Women, a positive return after registering no goal in 17 appearances in her debut season.

On Monday, MK Dons confirmed, through their official channels, that Nigeria had called up Omenazu for the Olympic games qualifiers this month.

Favour Omenazu, the player Nigeria is getting

Omenazu is a right-footed, versatile midfielder, who can also do an excellent job in defence. This season, Omenazu has made four appearances for MK Dons, scoring once.

At midfield, she can carry the ball, press, recover possession and attack. At right-back, she brings pace, physical strength and defensive aggression, while her ability to move forward gives her team another route into the opposition half.

That flexibility could prove useful in the Augustine Eguavoen-led Super Falcons squad that is missing the talents of versatile midfielder Ashleigh Plumptre. Having revealed her desire to play for Nigeria earlier this year, Omenazu now gets the chance to help the Super Falcons qualify for the Olympics.