Former Super Falcons captain and four-time WAFCON winner, Onome Ebi, on Wednesday announced her retirement from professional football at the age of 42, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Nigeria defender shared the news on her official X account, reflecting on a career that spanned 24 years. “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,” she wrote. “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 made her national team debut in 2003 and went on to earn over 109 caps, becoming the most capped female player in Nigerian football history. On 16 June 2023, she was named in Nigeria’s 23-player squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. By coming on as a substitute in Nigeria’s 3–2 win over Australia at 40 years and 50 days old, Ebi became the first African footballer, male or female, to appear in six FIFA World Cup tournaments. She also played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s WAFCON victories in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
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At the club level, Ebi began her career in 2001 with Omidiran Babes before moving to Bayelsa Queens. She later played abroad with Swedish side Piteå IF and had successful stints in Turkey, Belarus, Spain, and China, winning league titles with Ataşehir Belediyespor in Turkey and FC Minsk in Belarus. Her final club appearance in Nigeria came with Naija Ratels in the Women Football League Premiership before she joined Israeli club Bnot Netanya FC in January 2024.
As she steps away from the pitch, Onome Ebi leaves behind a legacy of excellence, leadership, and inspiration for the next generation of Nigerian footballers.
