Super Falcons forward Ifeoma Onumonu has announced her retirement from football after more than a decade-long career.
The 31-year-old, who featured in World Cups and the Olympics, called it “a new beginning.”
Super Falcons striker Ifeoma Onumonu has officially announced her retirement from professional football, closing a career that spanned over ten years across the United States, France, and Nigeria.
The 31-year-old shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post on Saturday morning, where she described the decision as “a natural conclusion” to a journey that began when she first kicked a ball at the age of eight.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch,” she wrote, recalling her earliest memories with a youth side in the United States. “All I wanted to do was run as fast as I could and score. I didn’t much care about winning or losing; I just loved playing.”
Onumonu said that simple love for the game sustained her for more than two decades and opened doors to moments she never imagined. Among her biggest achievements were winning the National Women’s Soccer League championship in the United States, representing Nigeria at both the Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and helping the Super Falcons win their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in July 2025.
Born in California to Nigerian parents, Onumonu played college football with the California Golden Bears before starting her professional career in the NWSL with Boston Breakers. She later featured for Portland Thorns, Reign FC, Utah Royals, and NJ/NY Gotham FC before joining Montpellier in France. She also represented the United States at under-23 level before pledging her international future to Nigeria in 2021.
Her first major appearance for the Super Falcons came during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and she was later part of the squad that competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Though her role at the 2025 WAFCON in Morocco was limited to a brief outing in the group stage, she remained one of the most senior members of the team.
Looking ahead, Onumonu stressed that she is not stepping away from football entirely but entering a new chapter. “This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning. I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it,” she said.
She expressed deep appreciation to coaches, teammates, medical staff, fans, and her family, noting that their encouragement kept her going throughout the highs and lows of her career. “Although my time as a player has come to an end, my love and devotion for this game will never waver,” she added.
