Onome Ebi missing as NFF names Falcons’ squad for Olympics qualifiers

For the first time in about four decades, Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi, will be missing in the team’s squad as Nigeria face Ethiopia in this month’s Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier.

Onome Ebi, 40 years, became the oldest female player in Africa to play at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. She had featured in several other tournaments including playing in six African Women’s Nations Cup.

At a point, some Nigerian fans called on her to retire, but Ebi was adamant, insisting that she would continue to play for the national as long as her body allowed her.

But what appears a ‘forced retirement’ may have come from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as she was left out of the 19 players invited to the Super Falcons’ camp for this month’s Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier against Ethiopia.

The East African country, Ethiopia, will host the first leg of the second-round fixture in Addis Ababa on October 25, with the second leg in Nigeria on October 31.

Ethiopia eliminated Chad in the first round of the series as Nigeria drew a bye to the third round of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, after Sao Tome and Principe’s senior girls scratched the tie. The Falcons will be up against their counterparts from Cape Verde in the third round of that series at the end of November.

The refusal of the NFF to include Onome Ebi in the fixtures has been a major debate in many sports programmes on radio and television stations.

“I am sure some officials of the NFF are equally tired of seeing Onome being invited to the Super Falcons,” one fan, Theophanous, said yesterday. “She ought to have retired from the team long ago.”

Another fan, Moses, said: “In sports, if you don’t retire when the ovation is loudest, you will be forced into retirement. I am sure that is what has played out in the case of Ebi. Some players don’t know when to stop and we know what ends it.”

Another fan, Ese, added: “Ebi should know it’s time to give way for the younger ones but she doesn’t want to quit when the ovation is high, that is if it is even still high. In fact, I expected Onome Ebi to quit long ago before Desire Oparanozie announced her retirement. There are two or three more players in the Super Falcons that are no longer effective in the squad. The NFF should stop the coach from calling them. They lack match fitness and sharpness.”

Meanwhile, former Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien, has applauded the decision to exclude Ebi from the Super Falcons squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifier against Ethiopia.

Ebi played under Izilien at the 2004 edition of the African Women’s Championship held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Among those invited for the tie against Ethiopia are goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi and Monle.

The defenders are Osinachi Ohale, Comfort Folorunsho, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne, Jumoke Alani and Rofiat Imuran.

The midfielders are Halimatu Ayinde, Peace Efih, Christy Ucheibe, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne and Regina Otu.

The invited attackers are Omorinsola Babajide, Ifeoma Onumonu, Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday and Opeyemi Ajakaye.