Super Falcons legend Oparanozie hangs up her boots

Desire Ugochi Oparanozie, one of Nigeria’s most prolific and decorated female footballers, has announced her retirement from professional football for both club and country at the age of 29. The Super Falcons forward made the announcement on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, on her X account, formerly known as Twitter.

Oparanozie thanked her fans, family, and friends for their love and support over the years and said that she believed there was no better time than now to take a bow. She also expressed her gratitude to every team and coach she had played for, every teammate she had played alongside, and every opponent she had played against for being part of her incredible journey.

The former Falcons Captain started her career at Bayelsa Queens and later moved to Delta Queens before securing a transfer abroad. She played for clubs in Turkey, Germany, France, and China, winning several trophies and awards. She last played for Wuhan Chegu Jianghan FC in the Chinese Women’s Super League.

She made her senior debut for the Super Falcons in 2010 and went on to represent Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. She was part of the teams that won the African Women’s Cup of Nations in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018. She scored 22 goals in 35 appearances for Nigeria.

Oparanozie’s last appearance for the Super Falcons was at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last month. She came on as a substitute in the second-round match against England and missed a penalty in the shootout as Nigeria lost 4-2 and crashed out of the tournament.