Super Falcons Defender Osinachi Ohale Retires from International Football

Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has announced her retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 16 year career with the Nigerian women's national team.

The 34 year old centre back confirmed the news on social media on Friday, closing out a career in which she earned 86 caps for Nigeria. Ohale was part of Super Falcons squads that won multiple Women's Africa Cup of Nations titles and represented the country at four FIFA Women's World Cups.

In an emotional message posted on Instagram, Ohale looked back on her time with the national team and thanked those who supported her along the way.

"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. "I gave this jersey my youth, my strength, my sweat, my tears, and my heart. And if I had to do it all over again, I would choose Nigeria every single time."

She also had a message for the fans who supported her 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 the international game with no regrets, only gratitude, listing out her achievements over the years. "Today, I say goodbye to international football with no regrets, only gratitude," she wrote. "86 caps. 16 years. 4 World Cups. 7 WAFCON. 5 WAFCON titles. But the greatest achievement of all is knowing that I had the privilege to serve my country."

She closed her message with a final tribute to her country. "The jersey will leave my shoulders, but it will never leave my heart. Thank you, Nigeria, for allowing me to live my dream. Forever a Super Falcon. Forever a Nigerian Legend," she wrote.

Ohale's retirement marks the end of an era for one of the most experienced defenders in Super Falcons history, having represented Nigeria at the top level for more than a decade and a half.