Super Falcons of Nigeria striker Desire Oparanozie on Wednesday announced her retirement from professional football at age 29, www.aclsports.com reports.
Oparanozie, whose last official match was the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16 game between Nigeria’s Falcons and England’s Lionesses made the shocking announcement on her official X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram pages on Wednesday morning.
Although no reason was given by the feared striker who stated that “It’s time to take a bow, as I believe there’s no better time than now”, ACLSports sources reveal that the decision may not be unconnected to her recent injury woes.
Oparanozie made her debut for Nigeria’s senior national team in 2010 before the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup where she inspired the team to second position. She would later score in the final of the 2010 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations when Nigeria defeated Equatorial Guinea 4-2 to wrestle back the title lost in 2008.
Oparanozie’s legend for Nigeria’s Super Falcons is only next after the biggest names Perpetua Nkwocha and Mercy Akide. In fact, only Nkwocha has scored in more AWCON final games than Oparanozie who scored in the 2010, 2014 and 2016 final as Nigeria won the title on each occasion.
At the youth level, Oparanozie featured at the 2010 and 2012 Under 20 Women’s World Cup, scoring two and three goals in each competition as Nigeria’s Super Falconets finished second and fourth respectively.
Oparanozie featured in four senior World Cup tournaments for the Super Falcons with the last down under in Australia serving as her swansong. She captained the team to the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France under Swedish coach Thomas Dennerby.
Desire Ugochi Oparanozie played club football in at least five countries including Russia, Germany, Turkey, France and China. Her performances had been hampered in the past two three years by a niggling injury which might have ultimately led to Wednesday’s retirement.
