Search Pan Africa Football Nigerian forward Ifeoma Onumonu has announced her retirement from professional football ball bringing to an end a career that spanned over two decades across club and international football. The 31 year old forward confirmed her decision on her Instagram page on Saturday. Onumonu expressed gratitude for the journey that began when she was a child that grew into a love for the sport which has played for 22 years. "It is witha heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch. I started playing football when I was eight years old, on a team called the Magic. We played in white, black, and green jerseys at the AYSo fields near my house. I remember how vast I thought the field was. I don't remember if l played an actual position or if I even passed the ball. "All I wanted to do was run as fast as I could and score. I didn't much care about winning or losing; I just loved playing. I loved discovering what my body could do and what I could do with the ball. Now, 22 years later, I feel I have reached a natural conclusion to that discovery. It has been an incredible journey." Onumonu started playing for California Golden Bears in 2012

"This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning. I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it. Thank you to all the staff, teammates, coaches, doctors, fans, and my incredible friends and family for your unwavering support through the years. "Although my time as a player has come to an end, my love and devotion for this game will never waver." Onumonu born in California, started her footballing career when she played for California Golden Bears in 2012. Her passion propelled her through youth football in the United States, into the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she played for Boston Breakers, Portland Thorns, Reign FC, Gotham FC and Utah Royals. After that she went to Europe and played for French club, Montpellier. The Nigerian forward won the NWSL championship with Gotham FC in 2023. In 2021, she decided to represent Nigeria, the country of her heritage, on the international stage, and went on to feature at the Olympics, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and helped the Super Falcons lift their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. ⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.