In Nigeria’s 3-2 victory against 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosts Onome Ebi became the Oldest player to play in the tourney, and the first African woman to feature in six World Cups
Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) side, Naija Ratels, has made a significant addition to their squad with the official unveiling of Super Falcons captain, Onome Ebi, as their latest signing, Soccernet.ng reports.
Late last year, the experienced defender concluded her stint with Spain’s Levante Les Planas, where she featured sparingly, making just one appearance for the Spanish club.
Having not played any club matches since 2022 and with five appearances international appearances with Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons, Ebi has made the decision to return to club football.
For Ebi, this return to club football takes her back to the NWFL, marking her comeback to the league after an absence of 15 years since leaving Bayelsa Queens.
At Naija Ratels, the accomplished center-back—the first African footballer to play in six World Cup tournaments —will proudly don jersey number 5, commencing a new chapter in her football career.
Ebi’s football career has seen her demonstrate her prowess on the field while representing clubs in various countries, including Sweden, Turkey, Belarus, China, and Spain. Her experience and leadership qualities are expected to make a significant impact on the Naija Ratels team.
As a distinguished member of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Onome Ebi boasts an impressive record of 109 international caps and three goals.
In her Instagram post, Ebi expressed her motivation for joining Naija Ratels which she revealed is beyond playing football.
“My joining Naija Ratels is beyond playing football. It’s about inspiring young upcoming female players from the grassroots to think and believe that if they dare like I did, they can make history like I did in a climate where, in most cases, a woman has to work twice as much as a man would to achieve success.
“I strongly think my story won’t be complete if I don’t accomplish the goal of giving back to the Nigerian league, which nurtured me to stardom. It was not an easy decision for me because I had a lot of juicy offers, but I believe Nigeria needs me right now.” She wrote.
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With Ebi’s arrival at Naija Ratels, her presence is set to motivate and uplift her fellow players as they prepare for the upcoming NWFL campaign.
