Ugochi Desire Oparanozie of Nigeria during the 2018 TOTAL African Womens Cup of Nations Semi Final match between Cameroon and Nigeria at the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra on 27 November 2018 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Super Falcons forward Desire Oparanozie has announced her retirement from football for both country and club.
“To every team and coach I have played for, to every mate I’ve 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.”
She made her senior team debut in 2010 and has played in the 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 editions.
Oparanozie was also part of the Super Falcons squad that won the 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles.
She started her club career at Bayelsa Queens and later joined Delta Queens before moving abroad. She last played for Wuhan Chegu Jianghan FC.