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Nigerian international Esther Okoronkwo has etched her name into the right side of history after her remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s female senior team, the Super Falcons, in the campaign at the just-concluded Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The 28-year-old forward had set the course for Nigeria’s crucial comeback at the WAFCON finals, as they trailed behind hosts, Morocco, by two goals before half-time. But Okoronkwo immediately rose to the occasion and scored from the spot kick after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention an hour after the interval.
She soon turned provider after extending a pass to teammate Folashade Ijamilusi, who converted the effort to a goal in the 71st minute. But Okoronkwo’s triumphant tale was not finished, as she would later find Jennifer Echegini, who gently slotted in a late winner to give the nine-time WAFCON winners another continental title.
Following the Super Falcons’ exhilarating win after an intense encounter with the Atlas Lionesses, and Okoronkwo’s irrefutable game-changer effect, social media users started to post alleged association between the Abia State-born with former Nigerian football stars.
Amongst them are former Nigerian aces, Augustine Okocha (Jay-Jay Okocha), Nwankwo Kanu, and Isaac Okonkwo.
- Image of Kanu carrying Okoronkwo as an infant
After the Super Falcons’ victorious encounter against their Moroccan counterparts, a viral image of Kanu carrying a baby, allegedly Okoronkwo, surfaced online. An X user, @AJSilverCFC, claims the baby is the Nigerian forward and attributes her remarkable contributions to her previous ties with Kanu.
“A photo of Super Eagles Nwankwo Kanu holding Esther Okoronwo at birth has surfaced on the internet from 2008,” the X claimant wrote.
Similar claims can be found here and here.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google Reverse Image Search and found a Reports Mind publication that states that the image in question is a throwback picture of Kanu and his son, Kachi, as babies when he played for former Premier League side Portsmouth.
We further checked Kanu’s Instagram page. He shared a similar picture of himself carrying a baby. He clearly stated that the baby in his arms is his son, Kachi, and wished him a happy birthday.
The post was made on Aug. 24, 2024.
- Image of Okocha carrying an eight-year-old Okoronkwo
An image of Okocha allegedly carrying an eight-year-old Okoronkwo on his shoulder also surfaced online, as social media users further attributed her success at WAFCON to her seeming relationship with him. A Facebook handle, Football Kitchen, claims Jay Jay Okocha took the picture with Okoronkwo at the Reebok Stadium in 2025.
“Nigeria’s legend Jay Jay Okocha with 8-year-old Esther Okoronkwo at the Reebok Stadium in 2005,” the Facebook handler wrote.
Similar claims can be found here, here, here, and here.
Verification
We conducted a Google Reverse Image Search, which linked us to several Getty Images of the former Nigerian player with the unknown kid. However, we could not find a context for the image that informs the relationship between the duo.
We thereafter conducted a random keyword search for Jay Jay Okocha and his son, Ajay Okocha, and were linked to a Facebook post that showed a similar image shared by the claimant.
Then, we searched through the picture posts shared by Jay Jay Okocha on his Instagram handle and found a picture of him carrying the same boy and standing with his daughter. He tagged the post “Happy Father’s Day.” An Instagram user reacted to the image by texting “Bolton days.”
We did a keyword search on Jay Jay Okocha and Bolton, and it linked us with a Getty Image that shows the former Nigerian football ace carrying the same boy shown in the claimant’s shared image and a girl. Getty Images referenced them as his children.
Moreover, Jay Jay Okocha debunked the viral claim that he was carrying Okoronkwo at the Reebok stadium in 2025. He dismissed it as “nonsense” and said the child “is my son.”
- Isaac Okoronkwo is Esther Okoronkwo’s father
Social media users also claimed that Esther Okoronkwo’s father is former Nigerian professional player Isaac Okoronkwo, and were not surprised by her impressive performance at the WAFCON games.
A Facebook user, Inocent Tino, wrote, “Esther Okoronkwo is believed by many to be the daughter of Isaac Okoronkwo a former Super Eagles star who played with the likes of Okocha and Kanu in arguably the best Super Eagles team Nigeria has ever produced.”
Other similar claims can be found here, here, here and here.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a keyword search on the relationship between Isaac and Okoronkwo but found no supporting evidence that shows he is the father of the WAFCON winner.
In 2014, a report by Net informed that the former Super Eagles star was getting married to his Russian girlfriend, Belle Christina. However, there was no mention of him being a father to any child then.
Furthermore, Nigerian-based journalist for the Entertainment and Sports Programme Network (ESPN), Colin Udoh, via a tweet, stated that he had contacted Okoronkwo about the viral claim, and she confirmed to him that Isaac is not her father.
“Just to be clear, I just had it confirmed with her, Esther Okoronkwo is not the daughter of former Super Eagles defender Isaac Okoronkwo,” The sports journalist wrote via his X handle.
Conclusion
Despite the viral claims of Okoronkwo’s alleged association with former Nigerian football stars, critical findings reveal that she has no ties or relationship with them.
