Onome Ebi Challenges Nigeria to Keep Raising the Bar in women’s football

Former Nigeria’s women’s national team captain, Onome Ebi has eflected on the development of women’s football across Africa.

Ebi said the continent’s competitive landscape has changed significantly, with more countries investing in their women’s teams.

She believes Nigeria must continue evolving despite its rich history and strong football tradition.

“The rest of Africa is catching up,” she said. “We need proper preparation, strong technical direction, player development, better structures, continuity and collective commitment.”

Ebi also stressed the importance of investing in the next generation to ensure the Super Falcons continue to produce elite players capable of competing internationally.

“Competition is good for African women’s football because it forces everyone to improve. As Nigerians, we should embrace that competition and use it as motivation to raise our standards even higher,” she said.

“For me, the goal should not only be to remain one of the best teams in Africa. The goal should be to build a system that consistently produces players and teams capable of competing at the highest level globally.”

For Ebi, the new appointment represents another chapter in a football journey that began on the pitch and is now expanding into administration, coaching and development.

“Football has given me so much, and I believe it is now my responsibility to give back in whatever capacity I can,” she said.

Super Falcons bowed out in the quarter final of WAFCON 2026 and ultimately failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since inception in 1991 showing the competitive nature of women’s football on the continent.