Annabelle Chukwu

Chinonyerem Annabelle Chukwu (born February 8, 2007) is a soccer player who plays as a forward for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Born in England, she represents Canada at international level.

Early life Chukwu was born in England and moved to Ottawa, Ontario in Canada in 2016. In 2017, she began playing youth soccer with Ottawa South United, after being spotted playing in a school soccer tournament and being invited to try out for the team. In 2021, she helped OSU win the U-14 Girls OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield. In August 2022, she joined the NDC Ontario program.

College career In November 2023, Chukwu committed to attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 2024 to play for the women's soccer team. On August 15, 2024, she scored her first collegiate goal in the season opener against Michigan State Spartans.

Club career In 2023, she began playing with NDC Ontario in League1 Ontario. On July 16, 2023, Chukwu scored her first five goals in the league, scoring five goals in a 10–1 victory over ProStars FC. In 2024, she was named a Second Team All-Star.

In 2025, she played with Ottawa South United in Ligue1 Québec.

International career

Chukwu was born in England, to a father from Nigeria, and raised in Canada. In the next match against Puerto Rico, she earned an assist on a goal by her twin sister, Isabelle.

She was then named to the Canada U17 team for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She made her debut on October 12 against France U17 coming on as a substitute and scored her first goal to help the team earn a 1–1 draw.

She was then called up to the Canada senior team for the first time, at age 15, for friendlies against Brazil in November 2022.

In 2023, she was named to the Canada U20 team for the 2023 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship. She scored twice in extra time in the bronze medal game to help Canada defeat Costa Rica U20 5–3, winning the bronze and qualifying the squad for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. In September, she earned another senior team callup for the CONCACAF Olympic qualification playoffs, following injury to Deanne Rose.

On September 3, 2024, she set the Canada Soccer record for most goals scored for national youth teams with her 28th career goal (in 34 matches).

On June 8, 2025, Chukwu scored the winning goal in the 120+2 minute in a 3–2 victory over Mexico U20 to win the 2025 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.

Later in June 2025, she was again called up to the senior team for a pair of friendlies. She made her senior debut on June 27, 2025 in a friendly against Costa Rica.

Called up to the Canadian squad for the 2026 FIFA Series in Brazil, Chukwu scored her first two senior international goals in a 4–0 win over Zambia on April 11, 2026.

Career statistics

International

Honours

Canada U-20 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship: 2025

Individual Second-team All-American: 2025 First-team All-ACC: 2025 Third-team All-ACC: 2024 ACC tournament all-tournament team: 2025 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship Best XI: 2025

Personal life Chukwu has a twin sister, Isabelle Chukwu, who also plays for the Canadian youth national team.