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Ifeoma Onumonu announces retirement from professional football
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward Ifeoma Onumonu has announced her retirement from professional football, bringing an end to an inspiring career that spanned over two decades and took her from grassroots beginnings in the United States to representing Nigeria on the global stage.
In an emotional statement shared this week, the 30-year-old expressed deep gratitude for her journey in football, reflecting on her growth from an eight-year-old with a dream to an international athlete who achieved success across multiple levels of the game.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch,” Onumonu wrote.
“I started playing football when I was eight years old, on a team called the Magic. I didn’t much care about winning or losing; I just loved playing. I loved discovering what my body could do and what I could do with the ball. Now, 22 years later, I feel I have reached a natural conclusion to that discovery. It has been an incredible journey.”
Onumonu’s career highlights include lifting the NWSL Championship trophy, representing Nigeria at the Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and helping the Super Falcons win a record 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) title.
“This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning,” she added. “I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it. Thank you to all the staff, teammates, coaches, doctors, fans, and my incredible friends and family for your unwavering support through the years.”
Born in California to Nigerian parents, Onumonu represented several clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), including OL Reign, Portland Thorns, and Gotham FC, where her pace, technical ability, and work ethic earned her widespread respect.
Her statement closed with a heartfelt tribute to the sport that shaped her life: “Although my time as a player has come to an end, my love and devotion for this game will never waver. Thank you for everything.”
As she hangs up her boots, Onumonu leaves behind a legacy of excellence, dedication, and pride in representing Nigeria on the world stage.
