A 21-year-old Super Falcons midfielder, Deborah Abiodun, has quickly made a name for herself as a standout in NCAA Division I women’s soccer, representing the University of Pittsburgh in the United States.
Recently recognized for her outstanding performance, Abiodun was named to the Second Team All-ACC on Wednesday, marking her as one of the top players in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the second year in a row.
This accolade comes on the heels of a strong season, with the Panthers wrapping up the regular season with a 9-6-3 record overall and a 3-5-2 conference record.
Abiodun, who hails from Ibadan, Nigeria, returned to the field with determination after an early-season injury sidelined her for six games.
She made her comeback memorable, netting her first goal of the season on October 3, 2024, leading her team to a victory over Clemson.
Demonstrating her offensive prowess, she followed this performance with two goals in a decisive 3-0 win against Syracuse on October 13, underscoring her role as a key offensive force for the Panthers.
Her scoring streak continued on October 20, when she found the net in a challenging match against Florida State, ultimately leading the Panthers with four goals in ACC play this season.
This level of performance has seen her honoured yet again, having previously been named to the Third Team and the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2023.
Further solidifying her place as a crucial player, Abiodun was recently celebrated as a PNC Achiever of the Week.
During the match against Syracuse, she demonstrated her aerial strength, scoring the opener in the 76th minute with a header from a Pitt corner kick.
She added a second goal just six minutes later, also off a corner, securing her second career multi-goal game.
Abiodun’s journey began with Rivers Angels FC in Nigeria’s Women’s Football League, where her impressive performances caught the eye of scouts, earning her a scholarship at Pittsburgh.
Since then, she has grown into a reliable playmaker and scorer for the Panthers, making her an asset to both her college team and her national squad
