Super Falcons forward Ifeoma Onumonu has called time on her football career after more than 10 years as a professional across the United States, France and Nigeria.
The 31-year-old announced her decision in an Instagram post on Saturday. She described retirement as a “natural conclusion” to a journey that began when she was eight.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch,” Onumonu wrote, recalling her first team, Magic, in the United States.
She remembered running freely on the field, chasing goals, and playing simply for joy. That passion, she said, carried her through 22 years in the game.
Onumonu’s career saw her win trophies and represent Nigeria on some of the biggest stages. She lifted the NWSL championship in the United States, played for the Super Falcons at the Olympics and the World Cup, and was part of Nigeria’s record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco this year.
She made her Nigeria debut in 2021 and went on to feature in the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her time on the pitch as Nigeria won its 10th WAFCON in Morocco was brief, but she was one of the senior players guiding a younger squad.
Born in California to a Nigerian father, Onumonu began her career at the University of California, Berkeley, where she starred for the California Golden Bears. She was drafted by Boston Breakers with the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft and played 18 games in her rookie season.
When the Breakers folded, she joined Portland Thorns through the 2018 Dispersal Draft, making eight appearances before moving to Reign FC in May 2019. Initially signed as a replacement player, her strong displays earned her a permanent spot.
In January 2020, she was traded to Sky Blue FC (later NJ/NY Gotham FC), where she became a regular. Her performances earned her a place in the 2021 NWSL Best XI Second Team. She re-signed in 2022 and extended her stay with a three-year deal in October 2022.
She later played for Utah Royals after a $40,000 trade in December 2023 before moving to France to join Montpellier HSC in September 2024 as a free agent.
Away from the pitch, Onumonu featured in The Offseason, a reality TV series that followed NWSL players preparing for a new campaign.
Reflecting on her decision, Onumonu said her retirement does not mark an end to her involvement in football.
“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 wrote.
She thanked staff, teammates, coaches, doctors, fans, friends and family for their support, adding that while her days as a player were over, her love for football would remain.
