Oklahoma State University Athletics
Dike Named Nigeria Discovery Of Year
November 14, 2014 | Cowgirl Soccer
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State soccer star Courtney Dike was named the Discovery of the Year 2014 at the Nigerian Sports Award 2014 in Onikan Lagos, Nigeria, Thursday night. She was also honored as a member of the Falconets, which took home the award for Team of the Year 2014.
A sophomore forward for the Cowgirls, Dike joined the Nigeria U-20 National Team for the first time at a July training camp and was named to the team for the 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. She earned a spot as a starter for a Falconets team that advanced to the U-20 World Cup final, where it dropped a 1-0 decision to Germany, and in six games, 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.
“It's a huge honor to receive this award,” Dike said. “It was a dream come true representing Nigeria in the World Cup this summer, and I am excited for the possibility to do so again in the future. Thank you to the Nigerian Sports Award and everyone who has supported me along the way.”
Dike was nominated in three different categories at the Nigerian Sports Award 2014: Sports Woman of the Year 2014, Footballer (Woman) of the Year 2014 and Discovery of the Year 2014.
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.
