Irene Maria Duarte Gonçalves (born 11 December 1984) is an Angolan retired[1] footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed Diva Demolidora (Destroyer Diva) or simply Demolidora (Destroyer),[2][3] she is the historical top goalscorer of the Angola women's national team, which she has also captained.
Club career
Gonçalves has captained the women's team of Progresso Associação do Sambizanga.[1] During the 2008 Angolan Women's Football League, she scored 22 goals in a single match,[4] which many people consider a world record in women's football,[5] but it is not internationally recognized.[5]
International career
She made her debut on October 11, 2002, at the age of 17, after a teammate was sent off in the first game against the DRC in the final qualifiers. She then scored a penalty, qualifying Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations, where she scored the country's first goal. 2002 African Women's Championship and the 2010 African Women's Championship qualification (preliminary round).[6]
International goals
Scores and results list Angola's goal tally first
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 December 2002 | Oghara Township Stadium, Oghara, Nigeria | Zimbabwe | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2002 African Women's Championship | [7] |
| 2 | 22 Augost 2006 | Lusaka, Zambia | 1-3 | 2008 COSAFA Women's Cup | |||
| 3 | 7 March 2010 | Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia | Namibia | 1–0 | 1-2 | 2010 African Women's Championship qualification | [8] |
| 4 | 21 March 2010 | Ombaka National Stadium, Benguela, Angola | 1–1 | [9] |
Retirement
In March 2012, Gonçalves announced her retirement from football.[1]
Personal life
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3]"Irene Gonçalves deixa os relvados". Jornal de Angola (in Portuguese). 28 March 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 2."Independência: Irene Gonçalves, um exemplo de luta da mulher angolana". ANGOP. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 3."Futebol: "Demolidora" Irene Gonçalves revela-se produto da independência nacional". ANGOP (in Portuguese). 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 4.[4.2]"Irene Gonçalves a melhor da actualidade". Jornal dos Desportos (in Portuguese). 30 March 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 5.[5.2]"Irene Gonçalves: The Legend of Diva Demolidora". Breaking The Lines. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 6."FIFA Player Statistics: Irene GONCALVES". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- 7."Africa - Women's Championship 2002". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 8."Namibia hold slender lead over Angola". Namibia Sport. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- 9."Angola empata e é eliminada pela Namíbia". ANGOP. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2020.