Early Life, Career, Stats, Family, Net Worth

Mercy Akide, nicknamed “Marvellous Mercy”, is a retired Nigerian professional footballer born on August 26, 1975, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Growing up in a football-crazed country, Akide’s career began on the dusty fields of Port Harcourt, where her sheer skill instantly distinguished her. She didn’t simply play football; she lived it, exemplifying the guts and flair that distinguish Nigerian athletes.

Akide rose to fame as a forward for Nigeria’s women’s national team, the Super Falcons, as well as a number of Nigerian and international clubs. She swiftly rose to prominence, becoming one of Africa’s most decorated female football players.

Mercy Akide Biography

Mercy began playing football at the age of five with her older brother Seleipiri and younger brother Ipali in the sandy pitch of Bundu Waterside, near Port Harcourt Prisons in Port Harcourt. Her pace was recognised at a young age, and when she was 12, she competed in long-distance races at Holy Rosary Secondary School in Port Harcourt, running the 400m, 800m, and 1500m against older competition. She was also a provincial table tennis winner, but football was where she truly shone.

Mercy gained the nickname “Ske” (which means “skinny” in local jargon) while playing against guys at Mile 1 in Port Harcourt. Among her many admirers back then was a young man named Chidi Odiah, who is now a full Nigerian international and plays club football for CSKA Moscow.

In recognition of her abilities, a group of young football organisers organised a girls’ tournament to determine the girls who would become ‘the Garden City Queens’.

After two years of playing for the Queens and turning down overtures from the rival Port Harcourt-based Larry’s Angels, Akide moved to Lagos to complete his studies and play football with the Jegede Babes, influenced by Princess Bola Jegede.

Career

The Nigerian Women’s League was in its early stages at the time, and Garden City Queens was not among the best teams, which included Jegede Babes, Ufuoma Babes, and Larry’s Angels. The club primarily played exhibition games throughout the state, with Akide as the lead attraction.

She scored over five goals per game throughout her two years at the club. One of those friendly games was against elite team Jegede Babes, and despite the Queens’ 6-1 defeat, Akide scored the only goal for her team.

Princess Bola Jegede, the club’s proprietor, was so taken with her that she immediately gave her a position in her establishment. Akide joined the Jegede Babes just as Nigeria competed in the inaugural Women’s World Cup in China in 1991. With a well-established strike force in place, Akide was shifted to central midfield for the 1992 season, where she needed time to adjust.

However, by the 1993 season, she had scored the most goals in both the league and the cup. She scored 16 goals in the league and another eight in the Challenge Cup. She carried her form into the following season, netting 15 league goals and 10 in the Challenge Cup to gain a call-up to coach Ismaila Mabo’s national camp. Unfortunately, her goals were insufficient to help Jegede win either title.

After returning from the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Akide (who had gained the nickname Marvellous) joined Warri-based team Ufuoma Babes, who had won the league and cup double the previous two years. It was meant to be a gratifying relocation. Ufuoma won the league and the Challenge Cup with 17 and 9 goals, respectively. It was the first of several titles.

The following season, she scored 11 league goals and ten Challenge Cup goals, helping Ufuoma Babes maintain their domestic league domination. In 1997, Akide continued to be the top goalscorer. She scored 14 league goals and eight Challenge Cup goals as Ufuoma won their fourth consecutive double. Pelican Stars defeated Ufuoma Babes in both the league and the cup in 1998, with Akide scoring a disappointing 10 league goals and 7 in the Challenge Cup.

Akide only played for the Pelican Stars for one year, but it was a successful one in terms of trophies. Pelican won the double again, despite Akide scoring only 9 league goals and 6 Challenge Cup goals. After a thrilling World Cup performance with the Super Falcons, Akide received a scholarship at Milligan College in Tennessee, United States, by the end of the season. In her sole season at the school, she scored 42 goals and assisted 15 times, breaking a school record for both goals and points (99).

International career

Mercy’s two seasons of consistency with the Jegede Babes, during which she scored a total of 49 goals, piqued the interest of national coach Ismaila Mabo, and she was invited to camp in 1994. However, another string of goals (17 in the league and 9 in the Challenge Cup) earned her a recall. Mercy made her international debut soon after, in a World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone in Ibadan, where she played as a winger.

She marked it with two goals. She added one more goal in the second leg to secure her spot on the team. She was voted the inaugural African Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2001 and a FIFA World All-Star in both 1999 and 2004.

She has represented Nigeria in three FIFA Women’s World Cups and helped the Super Falcons win three African Women’s Championships (AWC) titles in 1998, 2000, and 2002. In November 2004, she married football journalist Colin Udoh in her hometown of Port Harcourt.

FIFA named her one of its 15 Women’s Football Ambassadors back in 2005. Mercy worked at Stars Soccer Club from 2006 to 2008, where she was the head coach for Stars U-16 Athena C Gold Girls and Youth Development (an NGO that also employed her friend Luke Concannon, a coach for the U-13 girls’ squad).

Mercy served as co-director of Youth Development and Beach FC in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from 2008 to 2013. Mercy began coaching for the Virginia Rush Soccer Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2013.

Quick Career Stats

1988-1990 Garden City Queens (Nigeria)
1991-1994 Jegede Babes (Nigeria)
1995-1998 Ufuoma Babes (Nigeria)
1998-1999 Pelican Stars (Nigeria)
1999-2000 Milligan College/Hampton Roads Piranhas
2001–2002 San Diego Spirit (WUSA)
2003–2006 Hampton Roads Piranhas (W-League)

Achievements

Mercy Akide’s trophy cabinet reflects her talent. Here are a few of her notable achievements:

African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON): The Super Falcons won championships in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004.
African Women Footballer of the Year: Awarded in 2001 to recognise her as the continent’s best.
FIFA Women’s World Cup: Nigeria competed in 1999 and 2003, reaching the quarterfinals in 1999.
Olympic Games: Participated in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
WUSA Participation: Played for the San Diego Spirit, which showcased African talent in a premier professional league.

Akide’s record goes beyond awards. She was a pioneer for African women in global football, breaking down barriers and influencing players such as Perpetua Nkwocha and Asisat Oshoala. She shattered barriers and worked to raise the profile of African women’s football.

Personal life

She is married to Colin Udoh, a Nigerian journalist and sports TV broadcaster. Colin presently works for Kwese Sports. He has worked as a studio analyst for the Super Sport television network and a writer for the African football magazine Kick Off. He worked for the Nigeria Football Federation as a media officer.

They have children, but Akide keeps information about her family confidential. The couple has drawn attention to her activities in football and community development.

She and her spouse travelled to the United States to seek football and educational prospects. Akide has a degree in business administration, making her a role model for young athletes who want to balance sports and school. Her family has been a pillar of strength, and she frequently honours them with her accomplishments.

Akide is also very attached to her roots in Port Harcourt. She participates in philanthropic endeavours such as football clinics and mentorship programmes for young females in Nigeria. Her commitment to giving back demonstrates that her legacy is more than just goals scored; it is about changing lives.

Mercy Akide Net Worth

Mercy Akide played in an era when women’s football was less financially rewarding than it is today. Mercy Akide’s net worth is expected to range between $1 million and $2 million. This amount is based on her earnings as a professional player, coaching positions, endorsements, and other endeavours.

Akide earned money while playing for the WUSA and Nigerian clubs, albeit women’s football earnings in the early 2000s were lower than men’s.

Her transfer to the United States was a huge financial step, as the WUSA paid competitive wages at the time. Akide has also received endorsement deals; however, they are not as extensively publicised as those of modern artists such as Asisat Oshoala.