Former Nigeria’s women’s national team captain Onome Ebi has taken a significant step towards life after football, successfully completing the inaugural FIFA Players Executive Programme.
The achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Nigerian football icon, who is preparing to transition from the pitch to leadership and executive roles within the sport.
Ebi’s illustrious playing career has seen her break numerous records. She remains the first African footballer to feature in six FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, while also representing Nigeria at the Olympic Games and winning four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles with the Super Falcons.
By completing the FIFA Players Executive Programme, Ebi joins a select group of former and current players being equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to influence decision-making and governance in football.
Her latest accomplishment further highlights her commitment to contributing to the growth of the game beyond her playing days, while continuing to inspire future generations of African footballers.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
