Nigerian football icon Onome Ebi announced her retirement from professional football on Wednesday, concluding a remarkable two-decade journey with the Super Falcons at the age of 42, as shared in a heartfelt post on her X account.

Ebi, a towering centre-back, debuted for Nigeria in 2003 and amassed a record 109 caps, the most by any Nigerian female footballer.

She played a pivotal role in securing four African Women’s Championship titles (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) and competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Her legacy includes being the first African footballer, male or female, to participate in five FIFA World Cups, a record she extended to six in 2023 at age 40, notably contributing to Nigeria’s 3-2 win over Australia.

Reflecting on her career, Ebi described it as filled with "challenges, victories, and lessons" that shaped her identity. She expressed her intent to continue contributing to football by mentoring and advocating for players.