Four months ago, in June, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) put together a beautiful frame to celebrate the ever-committed and ever-present midfielder Alex Iwobi on reaching his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles.
In September, the same honour went to Moses Simon when he made his 100th appearance for the national team against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Friends, family, players, fans, NFF members and top football dignitaries came around to celebrate the man who has served the country since his debut in 2015.
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Though both players deserved every bit of it, many football fans could not help but wonder why the Super Falcons are not getting the same treatment.
Why Only Super Eagles Players?
Over the years, a few Super Falcons players gave their all for the team’s success. From Chioma Ajunwa to Florence Omagbemi, Precious Dede and Perpetua Nkwocha, these women gave everything to build the Falcons’ dominance in African football (a record ten Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles).
They were so committed that one of them stood in goal while four months pregnant. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, goalkeeper Ann Chiejine was pregnant. Yet she was flying between the sticks, stopping shots and putting her body on the line, regardless of what might happen to her unborn child.
She defended the colours with pride. She wore the badge with all her strength and helped the team to the best of her abilities.
What did she get in return? A silent retirement and, perhaps, a promise that faded before it was fulfilled.
The NFF may argue that she was not celebrated because she had fewer than 100 caps, but what about those who went past the 100-cap mark or came close?
Three Falcons Who Should Be Celebrated
1. Onome Ebi
Onome Ebi was not just another player during her time with the Super Falcons. She was a captain who led by example, and one of the few players who ensured a seamless transition between the older generation and the new set of players.
She made her debut in 2003 and served under several coaches across two decades, including Sam Okpodu, Florence Omagbemi, Thomas Dennerby, and Randy Waldrum, who named her captain in the squad for the 2023 World Cup.
Little wonder younger players looked up to the legend while growing up and also speak highly of her when they eventually played with her. Current captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who took over the armband from her, summed it up in her tribute: “Thank you, Onome, for being our hero.”
With four WAFCON titles, a place in the IFFHS CAF Women’s Team of the Decade (2011–2020), and the 2018 NFF-Aiteo Female Player of the Year award to her name, Onome remains one of the biggest names in African women’s football.
Her achievements are not limited to Africa. In 2023, she became the first African footballer, male or female, to play at six FIFA World Cups, a feat recognised by FIFA at that tournament.
If caps are the yardstick, Onome has 109 to her name, the most by any Nigerian woman. So, what is the NFF waiting for before celebrating this legend of the game?
2. Perpetua Nkwocha
If anyone embodies the Falcons’ golden era, it is Perpetua Nkwocha. She finished her Nigeria career with 99 caps and 80 goals, which makes her the Super Falcons’ all-time leading scorer.
Nkwocha won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award four times, lifted five WAFCON titles, and represented Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games.
When it comes to dedication, fear-factor, quality, and passion, Nkwocha had everything during her time with the team.
One cap short of 100 should never mean one cap short of recognition. The NFF cannot hide behind a number when the legacy is so big and the achievements are undeniable.
3. Osinachi Ohale
How do you celebrate someone who gave 16 years of her career to her country and helped the national team collect so many accolades and international recognitions?
Well, if going by the NFF’s standards, a single “congratulatory” post on X is enough, because that was all they did when she announced her retirement from international football on 25 September.
Ohale leaves with 86 caps, the 2024 Olympic Games, appearances at four FIFA Women’s World Cups, and five WAFCON titles, which makes her one of only five players in history to win the tournament five time.
These accomplishments deserve better than a social media post. At the very least, the NFF should celebrate her retirement in a proper send-off ceremony.
Final Thought
Nobody is asking the NFF to take anything away from Iwobi or Moses Simon. Their milestones were worth celebrating, and the federation did well to mark them. The question is, why should the standard change when the player is a woman?
The Super Falcons have been Africa’s most successful national team for decades, and the women who built that reputation did not play for a lesser badge.
Onome Ebi, Perpetua Nkwocha and Osinachi Ohale have earned their flowers, and they should receive them while they can still enjoy them. Recognition for the women who gave everything to the green-and-white shirt is long overdue.
