Christy Ucheibe: Nigeria star becomes an invincible as Benfica make history in Portugal

In the glow of Benfica’s record-extending fifth consecutive Portuguese league title, Nigeria’s Christy Ucheibe has quietly written her name into the club’s history books, Footynaija.com reports.

Ucheibe came off the bench to feature in the entire second half as Benfica defeated Sporting Braga 2-1 on Sunday, clinching the league crown in style — and with an invincible record. The champions completed the 2024/25 campaign unbeaten, recording 20 wins, two draws, and no defeats from 22 matches.

The 24-year-old Super Falcons midfielder played in 12 of those league games, scoring twice and providing one assist. While not always a regular starter, her impact has been consistent and crucial.

Ucheibe joined the Lisbon giants in February 2020 from Nigeria’s Nasarawa Amazons and has now been part of all five league-winning squads — a rare achievement. Her adaptability across the years, often switching between central midfield and defensive roles, has made her a valuable asset to the team’s tactical setup.

Among the players who featured in Benfica’s latest title-winning campaign, only seven — including Ucheibe — have played at least one match in each of the five triumphant seasons between 2020/21 and 2024/25. While Portuguese veteran Carole Costa led the way with starts in all five seasons and a staggering 6,925 minutes on the pitch, Ucheibe carved out a unique legacy of her own.

She holds the record for the most appearances off the bench among the ‘five-time’ champions, making 35 substitute appearances. In total, she has featured in 80 matches, scoring six goals and clocking up 4,268 minutes.

Ucheibe’s rise at Benfica has mirrored her growing stature on the international stage. A graduate of Nigeria’s U-17 and U-20 sides, she has since represented the Super Falcons at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and has been named in the squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

With five league titles, five League Cups, two Super Cups and a Portuguese Cup to her name, Christy Ucheibe’s trophy collection ranks among the most decorated for any African footballer in Portuguese women’s football history.