Super Falcons Forward Ifeoma Onumonu announces retirement from football

…Says her devotion to the game will never fade

Nigeria’s Super Falcons forward, Ms Ifeoma Onumonu, has formally announced her retirement from professional football after more than two decades on the pitch.

The 31-year-old made the disclosure on Saturday through her verified social media pages, where she expressed gratitude to her supporters and reflected on her career journey.

She wrote: “It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career.

“Although my time as a player has come to an end, my love and devotion for this game will never waver.”

Born and raised in the United States, Ms Onumonu began playing football at the age of eight for a youth team known as The Magic. She said she started the sport purely for the joy of playing rather than for competition.

Her club career spanned several sides in the United States, including Portland Thorns, Boston Breakers, Reign FC, and NJ/NY Gotham FC. She won the NWSL Championship title and established herself as one of the most respected Nigerian internationals in the league.

At national level, Ms Onumonu represented Nigeria at the Olympics, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and played a vital role in the Super Falcons’ record 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) victory.

“I had the pleasure of lifting an NWSL championship trophy, representing Nigeria at the Olympics and World Cup, and helping to win the African Cup of Nations for a 10th time,” she said.

While stepping away from active play, Ms Onumonu clarified that she is not leaving the sport entirely.

“This is not goodbye to football but a new beginning,” she added.