Courtney Ozioma Dike made a big decision in 2014. She turned down $7,000 after playing for Nigeria in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Why? Because she was playing college soccer in the U.S., and accepting the money would break the rules.
In a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, Courtney said she was happy to play for Nigeria without any bonuses. She believed that the experience of playing for her country was more important than the money.
Courtney didn’t just talk the talk, she walked the walk. She scored the fastest goal in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup history, just 14 seconds into a match against Korea Republic.
Courtney was born in Oklahoma to Nigerian parents. She grew up doing well in school and in soccer. Her brother and cousin also played for Nigeria’s national team.
Courtney scored over 90 goals in high school and earned many honors in college. She even got a masters degree in accounting. In 2015, she played in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Now 29 years old, Courtney has moved from soccer to accounting. She is a certified public accountant living in Los Angeles. She still gives back to her community in different ways.
Despite all her success, Courtney stays humble. She values her experiences more than money and sets a great example for others to follow.
