AFCON 2025 Winner and Super Falcons forward Ifeoma Onumonu, on Saturday, announced her retirement from professional football at the age of 31, www.aclsports.com reports.
Onumonu made the announcement in a heartfelt message, reflecting on her 22-year football journey.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch… All I wanted to do was run as fast as I could and score. I didn’t much care about winning or losing; I just loved playing,” she wrote.
Born in California, USA, to Nigerian parents, Onumonu began playing football at the age of eight and went on to enjoy a career that bridged both club and country. After a standout college spell at UC Berkeley, she played in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for several top sides, including Boston Breakers, Portland Thorns, Reign FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and Utah Royals. In September 2024, she joined Montpellier HSC in France’s Division 1 Féminine.
She won the 2023 NWSL Championship with Gotham and was named in the NWSL Best XI in 2021, underlining her influence at club level.
On the international stage, Onumonu switched allegiance to Nigeria after previously representing the United States at the U-23 level. She made her Super Falcons debut in 2021 and went on to feature in major tournaments, including the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where she scored against Botswana, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She played a part in Nigeria’s triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Falcons claimed a record-extending 10th continental crown in Morocco.
Over the course of her international career, Onumonu earned 32 caps and scored five goals for the Super Falcons.
Looking ahead, Onumonu stressed that this was not a goodbye to football but a step into a new phase.
“This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning. I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it,” she added.
The forward also thanked her coaches, teammates, doctors, fans, friends and family for their support throughout her career, while vowing that her love for the game will never fade.
