By George Omagbemi
Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has announced her retirement from international football, bringing an extraordinary 16-year career with Nigeria to an end.
The 34-year-old made the announcement on Friday, September 25, 2026, in an emotional statement, saying the decision to walk away from the national team was difficult but that she leaves with gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria.
Ohale retires with 86 international caps, having represented Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and seven Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournaments. Most notably, she was part of five Super Falcons squads that won the continental title.
Ohale’s Major Honours
With Nigeria
WAFCON champion — 2010
WAFCON champion — 2014
WAFCON champion — 2016
WAFCON champion — 2018
WAFCON champion — 2024 edition, played in 2025
Four FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances — 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023
Seven WAFCON tournament appearances
86 senior international caps
Her five WAFCON triumphs place her among the small group of players to have won the African women’s championship five times.
Club Honours
Ohale also enjoyed success at club level.
With Delta Queens, she won the Nigerian Women’s Championship in 2011 and 2012.
With Mexico’s Pachuca Femenil, she was part of the club’s 2025 Clausura Liga MX Femenil title-winning team.
Individual Recognition
Her individual honours include selection in the CAF Women’s Team of the Year for 2024, inclusion in the 2022 WAFCON Team of the Tournament, and recognition in the IFFHS CAF Women’s Team of the Decade for 2011–2020 and IFFHS CAF Women’s Team of the Year for 2022.
One of her most memorable international moments came at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, when she scored Nigeria’s second goal in the Super Falcons’ 3–2 victory over co-hosts Australia. She was named Player of the Match.
Ohale also scored in Nigeria’s dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over Morocco in the 2024 WAFCON final, helping the Super Falcons reclaim the continental crown.
In her farewell message, Ohale thanked her teammates, coaches, family, the Nigeria Football Federation and Nigerian supporters for standing by her throughout the journey.
She leaves international football having represented Nigeria across different generations of the Super Falcons and on some of the biggest stages in women’s football.
Sixteen years, 86 caps, four World Cups, seven WAFCON tournaments and five African titles; Osinachi Ohale leaves the Super Falcons with a remarkable legacy.
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