Okoronkwo Marks Toronto Return with Assist in Win over Montreal Roses

Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo made a bright return to club football on Saturday, registering an assist in AFC Toronto’s 2-1 victory over Montreal Roses in the Northern Super League.

Fresh off helping Nigeria clinch a record-extending 10th WAFCON title in Morocco last month, Okoronkwo slotted seamlessly back into Toronto’s line-up, playing a key role as the league leaders widened their advantage at the top of the table.

Nikayla Small opened the scoring in the 24th minute, finishing off a well-weighted through ball from Sarah Stratigakis during a swift counterattack. Thirteen minutes later, Okoronkwo produced a clever chest lay-off to set up Kaylee Hunter, who unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box for her ninth goal of the season.

Montreal halved the deficit in first-half stoppage time when Stephanie Hill headed in a corner from Latifah Abdu, but Toronto held firm after the break to secure the win.

The result takes Toronto to 31 points from 16 matches, six points clear of second-placed Montreal, who still have a game in hand. Both sides have two wins apiece in their head-to-head clashes this season, with their final regular-season meeting set for October 18 in Toronto.

Okoronkwo’s return continues her rich vein of form, having contributed seven assists and two goals—including a decisive penalty in the final—during Nigeria’s triumphant WAFCON campaign.