Nigerian Striker Gift Monday Scores After Losing Her Dad

When Gift Monday lost her father in 2025, she faced an impossible choice: stay away from the game to grieve, or honor him the way he'd want her to.

She chose the pitch. Days after giving her dad his final respect, the Nigerian striker returned to play for Washington Spirit and scored immediately. "I dedicated it to all the Spirit fans and also to my dad, because he was my first coach," she told reporters.

Her father shaped everything about her career. He trained her to keep believing and keep moving forward, even when life knocked her down. That lesson carried Monday through one of the toughest years of her life.

The 2025 season threw everything at her. Despite being in top form playing in Spain, Monday got overlooked for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations roster. The disappointment stung, but she refused to dwell on it. "I don't dwell on the negatives. I always try to take the positive side from experiences," she explained.

Instead of giving up, Monday used the snub as fuel. She moved to the ultra-competitive National Women's Soccer League and made an instant impact with Washington Spirit. Her debut season produced 10 goals and two assists, helping the team finish second overall.

One performance made history. Monday scored the fastest hat-trick from kickoff in NWSL history against Houston Dash. It was also the first hat-trick ever recorded at Audi Field. "On that day, I did everything right," she said.

Why This Inspires

Monday's story shows how grief and disappointment don't have to end our dreams. They can fuel them instead. Football became her source of joy during the darkest time, proving that passion can carry us through pain.

She credits her father for teaching her resilience. That final goal after his passing wasn't just about soccer. It was about refusing to let loss define her future.

Now Monday is focused on improving her finishing technique and establishing her own foundation. She wants to give young people the same support her father gave her: reasons to chase their dreams, no matter what obstacles appear.

"If I hadn't come back and scored that goal, I might never have forgiven myself," Monday reflected. "But with that moment, I knew my dad was with me and giving me the strength to keep going."

The striker who once felt overlooked is now impossible to ignore, turning her pain into purpose one goal at a time.