Falcons Forward, Onumonu Retires Draws Curtain On Professional Football
By Daniji Emmanuel
Nigeria striker, Ifeoma Onumonu has announced her retirement from professional football, drawing the curtain on a career that spanned more than 20 years.
The 30-year-old confirmed her decision in a statement released on Saturday through her social media accounts, describing the move as a “natural conclusion” to her playing journey.
Onumonu, who began her football career at the age of eight with a youth team named Magic, rose through the ranks to achieve success both at club and international level.
She featured prominently for Nigeria’s women’s national team, representing the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games. She was also part of the squad that secured Nigeria’s historic 10th African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) title.
At club level, Onumonu enjoyed a successful stint in the United States, where she won the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship and established herself as one of the league’s dependable forwards.
In her farewell statement, she expressed gratitude to teammates, coaches, staff, fans, and her family for their support throughout her career.
“This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning,” she said, adding that she intends to pursue new opportunities beyond the pitch while holding on to the lessons and experiences from her playing years.
Onumonu assured her supporters that although she is stepping away from active play, her passion for the game will remain strong.
Her retirement marks the end of a significant era for the Super Falcons, where she was regarded as a key figure in Nigeria’s dominance of women’s football on the continent.
