Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has announced her retirement from international football following 16 years of dedication to the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
The 34-year-old defender was the team’s longest-serving player and played a pivotal role during the just-concluded African Women’s Nations Cup in Morocco.
Osinachi Ohale was capped 86 times by the Super Falcons during her international career. She represented Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and featured in seven Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournaments, winning five of them with the Super Falcons.
Her international career spanned more than a decade, making her one of the longest-serving players in the history of the Nigerian women’s national team.
In her retirement message posted on Instagram, Ohale wrote:
“MY FINAL WHISTLE FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL
There are moments in life when words are simply not enough. Today is one of those moments.
After 16 years of wearing the Nigerian jersey, representing my country, and giving everything I had to the beautiful game, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football.
From the young girl who first dreamed of wearing the green and white, to the woman who had the honour of doing so for 86 caps, I can only look back with a heart overflowing with gratitude.
I have stood on the biggest stages in the world, representing Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and seven WAFCON, and I am incredibly proud that we lifted the African title five times.
But beyond the numbers and trophies are the memories that will stay with me forever — the tears, the celebrations, the difficult moments, the victories, the defeats, the friendships, the sacrifices, and every time I stood proudly with my hand over my heart and heard the Nigerian anthem.
I gave this jersey my youth, my strength, my sweat, my tears, and my heart. And if I had to do it all over again, I would choose Nigeria every single time.
To my teammates, coaches, staff, family, friends, Nigeria Football Federation @thenffofficial and everyone who walked this journey with me — thank you. You became part of a chapter of my life that I will treasure forever.
To the Nigerian fans: thank you for believing in us, supporting us, celebrating with us, and standing by us through every high and every low. Your love made wearing this jersey even more special.
Today, I say goodbye to international football with no regrets — only gratitude.
86 caps. 16 years. 4 World Cups. 7 WAFCON. 5 WAFCON titles.
But the greatest achievement of all is knowing that I had the privilege to serve my country. The jersey will leave my shoulders, but it will never leave my heart. Thank you, Nigeria, for allowing me to live my dream.
With love, pride and eternal gratitude.”
