Nigeria’s Super Falcons midfielder, Halimatu Ayinde has etched her name into European football history after helping BK Häcken lift the inaugural UEFA Women’s Europa Cup following a 4–2 aggregate victory over Hammarby IF.
Häcken sealed the title with a pulsating 3–2 second-leg win at the Hisingen Arena on Friday, completing a landmark triumph in the very first edition of the competition.
A Historic First; Halimatu Ayinde Joins Elite Team
The triumph is a defining milestone for Halimatu, who becomes only the second Nigerian player to win a UEFA women’s club competition, joining Asisat Oshoala, a three-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with FC Barcelona Femení.
Although Ayinde, who joined Häcken in January, was not named in the matchday squad for the final, her contribution throughout the campaign remains part of a historic achievement for both club and country.
She also shares the moment with Malawian midfielder, Faith Chinzimu, as both players become part of the first-ever winners of the newly created continental competition.
Schröder Steals the Show in All-Swedish Final
The final itself delivered drama befitting a historic occasion, as Häcken built on their slender 1–0 first-leg advantage secured at Stockholm Arena on April 25.
Teenage sensation, Felicia Schröder turned the tie on its head early in the second leg:
- 6th minute – Opened scoring with a composed low finish
- 9th minute – Doubled the lead after a pass from captain Anna Anvegård
Those early goals extended Häcken’s aggregate lead to 3–0 and left Hammarby with a mountain to climb.
However, the visitors responded with resilience:
- 26th minute – Svea Rehnberg headed home to reduce the deficit
- 47th minute – Elin Sørum struck from a corner to make it 3–2 on aggregate
With the contest hanging in the balance, Schröder delivered the decisive blow in the 54th minute, where she completed her hat-trick with a composed finish after a slick attacking move
Häcken held firm under late pressure to secure a 3–2 win on the night and 4–2 overall.
Schröder’s heroics saw her enter the history books:
- Only the second player to score a UEFA Women’s Europa Cup hat-trick (excluding qualifiers)
- Only the third player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA women’s final, after
- Inka Grings
- Ada Hegerberg
She was named Player of the Match in both legs and finished as the competition’s top scorer with eight goals.
Sadiku’s Tactical Rise Continues
On the touchline, Elena Sadiku guided Halimatu Ayinde and BK Häcken to continental glory, continuing her rapid rise in coaching.
The 32-year-old had previously led Celtic FC Women to a Scottish Women’s Premier League title and their first UEFA Women’s Champions League appearance, becoming the youngest coach in that competition’s history at just 30.
A Competition Built for Growth
The UEFA Women’s Europa Cup, launched this season, represents a major expansion in European women’s football.
- 43 clubs
- 28 countries represented
- Created to widen access and increase competitive opportunities
The inagural 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Europa Cup final is a two legged tie.
The final, contested by Hammarby and Häcken, consisted of a first leg on April 25, 2026, and a second leg on May 1, 2026, which, according to UEFA.com, determines the winner via an aggregate score.
Details of the Final:
- Format: Two-legged (home-and-away).
- Finalists: Hammarby (SWE) vs. Häcken (SWE).
- First Leg: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (Hosted by Hammarby).
- Second Leg: Friday, May 1, 2026 (Hosted by Häcken)
The new format now sees 61 teams competing across European competitions each season, compared to just 16 previously when only the UEFA Women’s Champions League existed.
What’s Next for Häcken and Ayinde?
By winning the Europa Cup, Häcken have secured a place in the third qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Women’s Champions League, offering another platform to compete among Europe’s elite.
From Asisat Oshoala conquering Europe with Barcelona to Ayinde now lifting a brand-new continental trophy, Nigerian players are once again proving their class at the highest level.
For Ayinde, the triumph adds to an already decorated career that includes:
- Three Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles (2014, 2016, 2024)
- FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances (2015, 2023)
- Runner-up at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
