Super Falcons captain Onome Ebi has recounted her journey with the team after becoming the first African player of any gender to have played at six World Cup tournaments.
The 40-year-old achieved this when she came on for Toni Payne in the 90th minute of Nigeria’s emphatic 3-2 victory over 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia in Brisbane on Thursday. The win gives the Falcons a chance of reaching the knockout phase for the third time in nine attempts and back-to-back for the first time.
Ebi grew up in the hustling and bustling city of Lagos where it was tough for her and also had to contend with her father’s initial refusal to play football at a young age when she was still in school.
“I live in a city called Adekunle in Lagos,” Ebi told FIFA+ “You have to be really committed to achieve whatever you want to achieve in that city because that city is very tough.
“When I was in school, I would sneak out to go play football. There was a competition that I was supposed to go to, and my dad said ‘No, you’re not going, I’m not supporting you.’ I felt sick.
“When I went to the hospital, I was there for four days. The doctor called my parents and told them something is wrong with me, [and said] they should talk to me. My Dad just understood that it is because of football. He came to me in the hospital and told me ‘Okay, I will let you play.’ Just come out and promise me you’ll combine both [school and football] together, which I did.”
Ebi says she never thought she could make a lot of money playing football but her orientation changed when she played for the U-19 team for the first time.
“In my head, I just want to go play football and never knew I would get paid doing what I love to do more,” she continued.
“My first ever call-up to the U-19, we went to the game and won. We were given was it like $1000 or $1500. I exchanged the dollars to such much currency, Nigerian currency. My mum was so scared. I told her that my football is with the national team.”
God is the greatest of all ????????????????????❤️????⚽️.
Thank you to our own fellow Nigerians ????????, thank you, Africa ???? ????❤️ for your love and support. We keep going stronger ???? till the end. #superfalconsofnigeria #victory #fifawwc2023 pic.twitter.com/EAyKpPT6I1— ONOME EBI (@EBIONOME) July 27, 2023
Ebi who is popularly called ‘Mama Onome’ among her Falcons teammates, believes no other African country can overtake them as the biggest team in women’s football on the continent despite the emergence of a number of teams.
“We are known as the African giant. I think we’ve set that standard in Africa that I don’t think anybody can break,” she explained.
“African countries are coming up like really, really fast but Nigeria is still the greatest, still the African giant.
“I don’t think anyone can take that from us because they are coming up. We are coming up as well, so we are not sleeping.”
Ebi has been capped more than 100 times for the Super Falcons and has played at every Women’s World Cup since 2003. She has also participated in six Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), winning all bar the 2008 and 2012 editions.
