Oklahoma State University Athletics
Dike Nominated For Prestigious Nigerian Sports Awards
October 16, 2014 | Cowgirl Soccer
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State soccer star Courtney Dike has been nominated for several prestigious 2014 Nigerian Sports Awards based on her play during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in August.
Dike is one of three nominees in three different categories: Sports Woman of the Year 2014, Footballer (Women) of the Year 2014 and Discovery of the Year 2014. The Nigerian U-20 National Team that she played on in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, the Falconets, is also nominated for Team of the Year 2014. The lists of nominations can be found here.
A sophomore forward for the Cowgirls, Dike was a starter on the Nigerian team that advanced to the 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup final, where it dropped a 1-0 decision to Germany, and in six games with the Falconets, she scored a pair of goals. In pool play against South Korea, Dike scored the fastest goal in FIFA Women's World Cup history as she found the back of the net just 18 seconds into the match, and she scored a goal 64 seconds into the semifinal match against North Korea to help Nigeria advance to the final.
“Losing in the final was rough, but it feels really good to be rewarded right now even so long after the tournament happened,” Dike said. “It feels good that back in Nigeria people are recognizing me. It's not just people here, it's abroad, so that gives me even more confidence than the World Cup gave me.
“It was a great experience. People kind of know who I am now so that keeps me motivated to play even better.”
Dike was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Edmond, Okla., and her parents, Vincent and Jacinta, are natives of Nigeria; her older brother, Bright, is a member of the country's men's national team.
“To be nominated for these prestigious Nigerian Sports Awards is a tremendous honor for Courtney,” said OSU head coach Colin Carmichael. “We all followed the successes of Courtney and her teammates with the Nigerian team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer. We are so proud of her and how she not only represents herself, but also how she represents Oklahoma State University. Courtney is a wonderful young lady, and I could not think of anyone more deserving of the recognition that she is receiving.”
Winners of the 2014 Nigerian Sports Awards will be announced and presented on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Muson Centre in Onikan Lagos, Nigeria.
