Onome Ebi, the iconic Super Falcons defender, has announced her retirement from professional football, ending a stellar career that spanned over 20 years with Nigeria’s women’s national team.
In a Wednesday post on her X account, Ebi shared: “Today, I officially retire from professional football. This journey, filled with challenges, triumphs, and lessons, has shaped me. Though I hang up my boots, my purpose in football continues—to give back, guide, and advocate for players.”
Regarded as one of Africa’s finest female footballers, the 42-year-old centre-back leaves an extraordinary legacy. Since her 2003 debut, Ebi earned a record 109 caps for Nigeria’s women’s team and secured four African Women’s Championship titles (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018).
In 2019, she became the first African footballer—male or female—to play in five FIFA World Cup tournaments. She extended this record in 2023, appearing in her sixth World Cup at age 40, coming off the bench in Nigeria’s 3–2 victory over co-hosts Australia.
Ebi also competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and participated in numerous African Women’s Championship campaigns.
