Desire Oparanozie, a former Super Falcons captain, has declared her retirement from the game of football.
Oparanozie, 29, made the startling disclosure on her X account, which was formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.
“To my fans, family, and friends, thank you for the show of love and support over the years,” the striker, who played for the Super Falcons in the FIFA Women’s World Cup that just ended, wrote.
“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.”
In her final game for the Falcons, Oparanozie missed a penalty in a shootout as Nigeria lost to England in the round of 16 of the 2023 World Cup.
After an exciting 120 minutes of play that ended at 0-0, the Nigerian squad ultimately fell to England 4-2 in penalties.
The forward started her career with the national squad in 2010, and throughout the years she developed into a crucial member of the group.
It was Oparanozie’s fourth World Cup appearance in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Super Falcons team that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018 included Oparanozie as a member.
She started her club career at Bayelsa Queens and eventually joined Delta Queens before departing to play in Russia, China, and France.
