Onome Ebi, One of the oldest members of the Super Falcons and the first African footballer to play in five FIFA World Cup Tournaments set to return to Nigeria Women’s Football League, (NWFL) 15 years after exiting the country.
The 39-year-old has been included in the roster for Super Falcons’ camp in Turkey, as Nigeria is set to compete in international friendlies against Haiti and New Zealand in April in the build-up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ebi became a free agent, after parting ways with the Spanish side, Levante Las Planas in December and is set to return to the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership for the first time since she left Bayelsa Queens in 2008.
After weeks of negotiations, the Umuahia-based outfit is edging closer to an agreement in principle for the Nigeria women’s National team Captain, and they anticipate concluding the deal in the coming days.
Sources also revealed that Abia Angels Coach, Ann Chiejine, who doubled as Super Falcons Assistant Coach, was influential in the potential switch of the veteran defender to the NWFL Premiership Super Six chasing outfit.
After leaving Omidiran Babes for Bayelsa Queens in 2008, Ebi moved to the Swedish side a year later before suiting up for Djurgarden, Duvenciler Lisesispor, Atasehir Belediyespor, Sunnana SK, FC Minsk, and Henan Jianye.
At the international level, she became the first African footballer to play in five FIFA World Cup Tournaments and is set to make her sixth appearance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, after taking part in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 World Cups.
Ebi was also a member of the Nigerian squad in the 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 editions of the Women Africa Cup of Nations, (WAFCON) winning the tournament four times in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018.