Osinachi Ohale, Super Falcons defender, has announced her retirement from international football after 16 years of representing Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 34-year-old announced her decision on Friday in a farewell message, bringing an end to a national-team career spanning four FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances and seven Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournaments. She finished with 86 caps for Nigeria, according to TheCable.
Ohale said the decision to leave international football was difficult but described her time with the national team with gratitude.
“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.
She added that her journey began with the dream of playing for Nigeria before she eventually became one of the country’s most experienced defenders.
“From the young girl who first dreamed of wearing the green and white, to the woman who had the honour of doing so for 86 caps, I can only look back with a heart overflowing with gratitude,” she said.
Ohale represented Nigeria at four World Cups and seven WAFCON tournaments. She was also part of the Super Falcons squad that won five African titles.
Reflecting on those tournaments, she said: “I have stood on the biggest stages in the world, representing Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and seven WAFCON, and I am incredibly proud that we lifted the African title five times.”
Her international career began in 2010 after she represented Nigeria at youth level. She was part of the Falconets side that finished runners-up at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany before progressing to the senior team that same year.
Ohale also featured for Nigeria at the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco, having been included in coach Justine Madugu’s 25-player squad for the tournament. The Nigeria Football Federation had listed her among the defenders selected for the title defence.
In her farewell message, the defender thanked her teammates, coaches, support staff, family, friends, the Nigeria Football Federation and Nigerian supporters for their roles throughout her career.
“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,” she said.
Ohale said she was leaving international football without regrets and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria.
“Today, I say goodbye to international football with no regrets — only gratitude,” she said.
She began her professional career with River Queens FC before playing for clubs in different countries. Her career included spells across three continents and 10 teams, according to TheCable.
Ohale’s retirement brings to an end a 16-year international career in which she represented Nigeria across several generations of the Super Falcons.
