Onome Ebi relishes veteran role at record sixth Women’s World Cup with Nigeria

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria defender, Onome Ebi says she is looking forward to working with the young players to reach their full potentials at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted Australia and New Zealand.

Ebi will be making her recorded sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance at the age of 40 – four years after becoming the first African player to take part in five consecutive World Cups  both men and women.

Having made her debut in 2003, the Super Falcons captain recounts her early memories as a young girl and assures of supporting the talented players to inspire the nine time African champions.

“I met a lot of big names when I came into the team, like Mercy Akide, Nkiru Okosieme, Kikelomo Ajayi and many more,” Ebi told Brila FM.

“I was scared the first time I entered the dressing room because these are legends already. But I have a good relationship with everyone, and I am trying to do the same with the younger players coming through now.

“I am enjoying working with them. They gave me the nickname ‘Mama Onome’ because I am like the mother of the team.”

Ebi was also a member of the Nigerian squad in the 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 editions of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), winning the tournament four times in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018.