Super Falcons striker, Desire Ugochi Oparanozie, has retired from professional football.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the forward announced her retirement from football on Wednesday at the age of 29.
Taking to her social media accounts on Wednesday, Oparanozie wrote;
“To my fans, family, and friends, thank you for the show of love and support over the years.
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“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.”
Oparanozie had a successful career in playing in the Chinese Women’s Super League as well as the Nigerian women national team.
The towering striker started her playing career at Bayelsa Queens and later played for Delta Queens and Düvenciler Lisesispor.
In 2012, she transferred to Rossiyanka in the Russian Women’s Football Championship, where she had a successful stint, playing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and scoring a goal.
After that, she moved to VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for the 2013-14 season.
Oparanozie returned to China in 2015, where she played for Tianjin Quanjian and Changchun Yatai. She also had stints in France and Turkey.
The former Super Falcons captain infamously missed the opening penalty as the Nigerian women lost to England on penalties at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
