Athletic look, piercing eyes, locks on her head, Bukola ONI, bib number 30, is the main goalkeeper of the Naja Football Club of Cotonou, based in Djèfa in southeastern Benin. Of Nigerian origin, this professional footballer has been travelling since childhood. She has been playing in football leagues between Nigeria, Benin and Togo for about 7 years.

Born in 2004, Bukola Oni is the youngest of four children, including 3 girls. She played the Professional League in Nigeria before landing in Benin 5 years ago. She went successively from the amateur category to the professional category and then the Premier League, the highest level in the country. She cut her teeth with Club Shuwo Baby of Ilorin of Nigeria and Wory Baby whose current name is Wear FC.

During her first stay in Benin, with Naja FC, she played in the Benin Women’s Professional League.  A competition that had pitted six Clubs against each other. After this adventure, she joined the Atlanta FC club of Togo and participated in the CAF Champions League (Confederation of African Football) which took place in Côte d’Ivoire. Three years later she signed her return to Naja FC, the women’s football championship of Togo then suspended.

The last bulwark of his club, Oni assumes his position as a challenge and an opportunity to reveal himself to the world.

The one who found herself wearing gloves following a fact of circumstance, with the women’s team of her school in Nigeria, swears today by this position.

“When I started, I was a striker. We had gone to play a game with my team and our goalkeeper was not available. So, I asked to be given the gloves to keep the goals. Since then, I became a goalkeeper,” she sighs.

While her parents wanted her to continue with her studies and feared that she would break her leg, she persevered and today she is the pride of her entire family. Today, she plays in the first division of the Benin Women’s Football Championship, the largest in the country with Club Naja FC as the main goalkeeper.

Realities of professional footballers

Oni has never been discriminated against by fans and sports fans or by management or club officials against female footballers or in Benin and Togo.  “The public and the fans want to see the beautiful game. They don’t want to know where you’re from. As for the club leaders and managers, they want to win. It’s the result that counts… ” she notes.

However, challenges remain. “We who come from abroad face a lot of difficulties. As an example, there is the language barrier and also eating habits. When Beninese speak, it is difficult for us to understand and it is the same in the other direction. Also, the dishes are different. For example, when I started, I had digestive problems before I decided to personally take care of my kitchen,” Oni says.

The other element is the possibility of being able to play in a national team of an adopted country. “Not every country agrees to take you on their national team. They often allow you to play the championship. They have faith in their nationals, and want theirs to have the right level,” she notes. 

As for the mobility of footballers, “it’s a good thing because it allows you to have experience. For example, I know both countries better. I became a Beninese-Nigerian. It makes us love both countries. There are also Beninese who play in Nigeria and this creates fraternity. If  there is no football, or other sports that bring us together, there can be conflicts between the two peoples. This creates the union between two countries,” says Oni. 

Challenges and challenges…

Bukola Oni lives only for football. Outside, nothing fascinates her anymore. “I tried but I couldn’t. All the time I only think about football.” 

From a young age, she likes to travel to go on excursions, convinced that to know one’s potential you have to leave your immediate environment, and dreams of valuing one’s name.  “I’m thrilled when everywhere I go, people shout my name,” she says.

If in the past it was a male-dominated sport, today, football is becoming more and more feminized and girls are becoming professional, according to Oni. “Women’s football is also a profession,” she argues.

She remains convinced, however, that those who play in Africa cannot hope to earn a good salary and opportunities that Europe could offer. Her dream, she hangs it on a star. “In this world, every player has big dreams. I dream of playing in France. I dream of playing for PSG or Lyon in France. I firmly believe in it.”

Oni is convinced that there is no success without effort.  “I just like to say: no pain no victory. And football is hard work.”

Bukola Oni, like any other professional player, has ambitions for her career and looks forward to a bright future with Naja FC in the short term.