SUPER FALCONS STAR UCHEIBE MAKES SAUDI SWITCH, REUNITES WITH OSHOALA

Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe has completed a move from Portuguese champions Benfica to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The 25-year-old Nigerian international has signed a two-year contract with the Saudi club that will keep her at Al Hilal until the summer of 2028.

Ucheibe joins Al Hilal as a free agent following the expiration of her contract with Benfica, where she spent six years and became an important figure in the Portuguese women's football scene.

During her time in Lisbon, Ucheibe made 91 appearances for Benfica and contributed to the club's continued dominance in domestic competitions. She also won several trophies during her successful spell with the Portuguese side.

The midfielder began her professional career with Nasarawa Amazons before moving to Swedish club Assi IF and eventually joining Benfica, where she developed into a versatile and dependable player.

Her transfer to Al Hilal will also see her reunite with fellow Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala, who currently plays for the Saudi Arabian club.

Oshoala joined Al Hilal after leaving American side Bay FC last year and has continued her career in Saudi Arabia. The reunion of the two Nigerian internationals is expected to add experience and quality to Al Hilal's squad.

Ucheibe made her debut for the Super Falcons in 2022 and has since earned 32 international caps, scoring three goals for Nigeria.

She was also part of the Nigerian squad that won the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, further establishing herself as an important player in the national team.

Known for her energy, physical strength and versatility, Ucheibe can operate both in midfield and at centre-back, giving her new club additional options across the pitch.

At Al Hilal, she will be expected to make an immediate impact as the club looks to strengthen its squad and compete more strongly for domestic honours.

The Saudi women's league has continued to attract prominent international players, and Ucheibe's arrival adds another Nigerian star to the growing number of African footballers making their mark in the competition.

With the 2026/27 campaign approaching, Ucheibe will now begin a new chapter of her career alongside Oshoala as Al Hilal aims to challenge rivals, particularly Al Nassr, for supremacy in Saudi women's football.