Ex-Nigerian striker, James Johnson, formerly known as Iyabo Abade has opened up on how he was cut off from the national team for having both male and female sexual organs.<\/p>\n The former Nigeria Super Falcons forward was born intersex before undergoing a gender reassignment surgery<\/span><\/span> at the Midway Hospital in Los Angeles, California which cost over US$450,000, in 2004 to fully become a man.<\/p>\n Johnson, who was raised a female, began playing football at the age of 11 with a record of 38 goals in the 1996 Nigeria women\u2019s league season while playing for Jegede Babes.<\/p>\n However, it was when he was at the point of making his debut at the 1998 African Women\u2019s Championship, he was stripped by a female opponent and it was discovered that he had both male and female sexual characteristics.<\/p>\n The footballer was cut off completely from the team.<\/p>\n Fortunately, it was the then minister in the Nigerian government, Muhammed Abba Gana, who approved funding for the transition operation to show appreciation for Johnson\u2019s work with the team.<\/p>\n Watch the video below:<\/p>\n Born intersex, Iyabo Abade scored a record 38 goals in the 1996 Nigerian female football season.<\/p>\n After a series of incidents on and off the pitch, Abade decided to transition, and became James Johnson.<\/p>\n He\u2019s faced discrimination at all levels of the game. pic.twitter.com\/TnjOlNLobm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) October 1, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/108560346_iyabo2.png.jpg\")
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