Ohale announces retirement after 16-year Falcons spell
Super Falcons defender, Osinachi Ohale, has announced her retirement from international football, ending a 16-year career with Nigeria, following the team’s failure to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Saturday PUNCH reports. The centre-back, who was part of the squad that fell short of qualification for the global tournament, described the decision as difficult after wearing the Nigerian jersey for so long. She made the announcement in a statement on her Instagram page on Friday. “There are moments in life when words are simply not enough. Today is one of those moments,” Ohale wrote. “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.” She leaves with 86 caps to her name. Her career included four FIFA Women’s World Cups, in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023, and seven Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google She was part of five WAFCON-winning squads in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024. One of her most memorable moments came at the 2023 World Cup in Australia, where she scored Nigeria’s second goal in a 3-2 group-stage win over the co-hosts. At the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco, played in July 2025, she again scored as Nigeria came from two goals down to beat the hosts 3-2 in the final. Simon set to join Eagles’ 100-cap club FIFA names Nigerian referee among 81 officials for U-17 World Cup Ajibade hints at Odemwingie 10-year NFF exposé Ohale made her senior debut for Nigeria in 2010 and went on to become one of the most experienced defenders in Super Falcons history, remaining a dependable presence across different generations of players and under several coaches. She thanked her teammates, coaches, staff, family and the Nigeria Football Federation, as well as Nigerian fans, for their support throughout her career. “To my teammates, coaches, staff, family, friends, Nigeria Football Federation and everyone who walked this journey with me, thank you. You became part of a chapter of my life that I will treasure forever,” she wrote. “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.” Ohale said her greatest achievement was the privilege of serving her country. “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,” she concluded. The 34-year-old currently plays her club football for Mexican side, Pachuca, having previously turned out for Houston Dash in the United States and clubs in Sweden and Spain, including Alavés. Peter Akinbo Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories
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