Super Falcons forward, Ifeoma Onumonu, has announced her retirement from professional football, drawing the curtain on a career that spanned over a decade across the United States, France, and Nigeria.
The 31-year-old confirmed the decision in a heartfelt statement on Instagram on Saturday, describing it as a “natural conclusion” to a journey that began when she first kicked a ball at the age of eight.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career,” Onumonu wrote, recalling her earliest days playing for a youth side named Magic in the U.S. “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.”
That passion carried her through 22 years of football, highlighted by winning the NWSL Championship in the U.S., representing Nigeria at the World Cup and Olympics, and helping the Super Falcons to a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in July 2025.
Born in California to Nigerian parents, Onumonu began her professional career in the NWSL with Boston Breakers and later played for Portland Thorns, Reign FC, Utah Royals, NJ/NY Gotham FC, and France’s Montpellier HSC. A graduate of the California Golden Bears collegiate programme, she represented the U.S. at U-23 level before switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2021.
She was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was called up from the alternates list following Halimatu Ayinde’s injury.
Onumonu reflected that while her time on the pitch has ended, her journey in football is far from over.
“This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning,” she said. “I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it.”
She expressed gratitude to coaches, teammates, fans, and her family for their support: “Although my time as a player has come to an end, my love and devotion for this game will never waver.”
