Oparanozie Desires Football No More, Bows Out

* ‘It’s time to take a bow, as I believe there’s no better time than now’

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Former Super Falcons Captain, Desire Ugochi Oparanozie, 29, yesterday called time on her illustrious football career.

Oparanozie who plays as forward for Chinese Women’s Super League side Wuhan Jianghan University, announced via her X (formerly Twitter) handle @oparanozie9 on Wednesday that she was retiring from football at both club and country levels.

“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,” observed the talented striker who along with Super Falcons mates won the Women’s African Cup of Nation in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018. She won the 2014 WAFCON Golden Boot.

She further thanked her teammates and coaches in all the clubs she played her professional career that began at Bayelsa Queens in 2010 .

“To every team and coach I have played for, to every mate I ‘be 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.

Oparanozie became a key figure for Nigeria after progressing through the youth ranks, earning over 60 caps. She scored 22 goals in 35 appearances for the Super Falcons.

Apart from Bayelsa Queens, Oparanozie also had stints at Delta Queens before moving abroad for greener pastures. She spent six successful years in France with Guingamp with spells at Dijon and in China, becoming the first African to play in the Chinese Women’s Super League.

As it is common with footballers with such glittering career, Oparanozie will be sadly remembered for missing her penalty kick as Nigeria agonisingly lost to England in the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World up in Australia.