Onome Ebi, the legendary Super Falcons defender, has officially announced her retirement from professional football at 42. She made the announcement on her social media page, sharing a heartfelt message with fans and fellow players.
Career Highlights:
- Six FIFA World Cup Tournaments: Ebi made history as the first African player, male or female, to appear in six FIFA World Cup tournaments (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023).
- Four WAFCON Titles: She won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations four times with Nigeria (2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018).
- 109 Appearances: Ebi earned over 109 caps for the Super Falcons, scoring 4 goals and becoming Nigeria’s most-capped female player.
- Global Club Career: She played for various clubs across the world, including Omidiran Babes, Bayelsa Queens, Piteå IF (Sweden), Ataşehir Belediyespor (Turkey), FC Minsk (Belarus), and Abia Angels (Nigeria).
Post-Retirement Plans:
“Today, I officially retire from professional football. The journey has been filled with challenges, victories, and lessons that shaped me into who I am today. Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in the game continues — to give back, to guide, and to be a voice for players,” she said.
Despite hanging up her boots, Ebi’s commitment to football remains strong. She expressed her desire to continue giving back to the sport, guiding, and being a voice for players.