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Onome Ebi set for sensational Nigeria Women Football League Premiership return
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Abia Angels are closing in on the historic signing of veteran Nigeria defender Onome Ebi, NigeriaFootball.ng can exclusively report.
Ebi became a free agent after parting ways with Spanish side Levante Las Planas in December and is set to return to the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership for the first time since she left Bayelsa Queens in 2008.
After weeks of negotiations, the Umuahia based outfit are edging closer to an agreement in principle for the Nigeria women’s national team captain, and they anticipate concluding the deal in the coming days.
Sources also revealed that Abia Angels coach Ann Chiejine, who doubled as Super Falcons assistant coach was influential in the potential switch of the veteran defender to the NWFL Premiership Super Six chasing outfit.
Giving credence to this report, the Nigeria Football Federation had listed the defender as a player of Abia Angels, in the 23-player squad announced by Randy Waldrum for next month’s training camp.
The 39-year-old has been included in the roster to camp in Turkey, as Nigeria are set to compete in international friendlies against Haiti and New Zealand in April in build up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
After leaving Omidiran Babes for Bayelsa Queens in 2008, Ebi moved to Swedish side a year later before suiting up for Djurgarden, Duvenciler Lisesispor, Atasehir Belediyespor, Sunnana SK, FC Minsk, and Henan Jianye.
At the international level, she became the first African footballer to play in five FIFA World Cup Tournaments and is set to make her sixth appearance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after taking part in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 World Cups.
Ebi was also a member of the Nigerian squad in the 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 editions of the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), winning the tournament four times in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Her sensational signing will add more experience to Chiejine’s team in its bid to qualify for the NWFL Premiership Super Six as they occupy the fifth position in Group B with 13 points behind FC Robo Queens (16 points), Confluence Queens (16 points), Edo Queens (15 points), and Nasarawa Amazons (13 points).
If all contract details are sorted, Ebi will make her debut when Abia Angels host Confluence Queens on April 5.
