Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie has announced her retirement from football for both country and club at the age of 29, to the shock of many football enthusiasts.
In a post on her X page (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Oparanozie said, “To my fans, family, and friends, thank you for the show of love and support over the years. It’s time to take a bow, as I believe there’s no better time than now. I’m officially announcing my retirement from professional football for both club and country.
“To every team and coach I have played for, to every mate I’ve played alongside, and to every opponent I have played against, thank you all for being part of this incredible journey. Thank you football, thank you Nigeria.”
The 29-year-old’s last outing for the senior female national team was at the 2023 World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, where she missed a crucial penalty kick in the penalty shootout against England, with Nigeria crashing out in the round of 16.
Oparanozie made her senior team debut in 2010 and has since represented the country in different FIFA and CAF tournaments.
She was part of the Super Falcons squad that won the 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles.
At the club level, she started her career at Bayelsa Queens and later joined Delta Queens before moving abroad, where she last played for Wuhan Chegu Jianghan FC.
