Ohale retires from international football after 16 years with Nigeria
Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has ended her international career after 16 years with Nigeria. The 34-year-old leaves with 86 caps, four Women’s World Cup appearances and five Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles, having also scored in Nigeria’s 2023 World Cup campaign and 2024 continental final.
Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has announced her retirement from international football after a 16-year career with Nigeria. The 34-year-old made the announcement on Instagram on Friday, following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Ohale said the decision was difficult after spending so long representing the country.
“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 wrote. Ohale won 86 caps and represented Nigeria at four Women’s World Cups, in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. She also appeared at seven Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and was part of five title-winning squads in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024.
Among her notable moments was scoring Nigeria’s second goal in a 3-2 group-stage victory over co-hosts Australia at the 2023 World Cup. At the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco, played in July 2025, she scored again as Nigeria recovered from two goals down to beat the hosts 3-2 in the final. Ohale made her senior debut in 2010 and became one of the country’s most experienced defenders.
She thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, family, the Nigeria Football Federation and fans for their support. “The jersey will leave my shoulders, but it will never leave my heart,” she wrote, adding that her greatest achievement was the privilege of serving Nigeria. At club level, Ohale plays for Mexican side Pachuca.
Her previous clubs include Houston Dash in the United States and teams in Sweden and Spain, including Alavés.
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