Justina Aniefiok may not be on the field with a football at her feet anymore, but her love for the beautiful game still burns brightly.
After giving up her amateur playing career due to a lack of family support, Aniefiok has turned her passion for football into a successful career as a photojournalist. Now covering the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire.
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) have deemed it fit to celebrate her for her awesome works covering the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.
Justina from Nigeria, Khady Sy from Mauritania, Sarjo Baldeh (Gambia), iLa Yeboah (Ghana) and Weam Mostafa Elsayed (Egypt) were part of those CAF celebrated and are currently in the tournament, telling the Afcon stories through their lenses.
Reacting to CAF accolades, Justina recalled that the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon brought her to limelight amidst varying challenges encountered, covering her first major tournament outside the shores of Nigeria.
She further opened up on how she was able to overcome her fears and exposed her works to the World.
“Cameroon 2021 brought me to the limelight. I had to hand everything over to God to take perfect control as I was scared of how I will survive when I get to Cameroon”, Justina told CAF.
“But everything went well. I’m proud of myself because, I was able to overcome my fear and to showcase my work to a large audience”.
Justina is currently one of the best female Photo Journalist in Nigeria, distinguishing and carving a niche for herself in covering women’s football after quitting playing the game at the amateur level due to lack of support from family.
