Ebi becomes first African player to feature in six Women’s World Cups

When Onome Ebi was brought on in the later stages of the Super Falcon’s victory over Australia on Thursday, she strode into the history book as the first African woman to feature in six World Cups. 

The 40-year-old Nigerian has achieved a feat only marched by Japan’s Homare Sawa, Christine Sinclair of Canada and Brazil’s Marta.

Only Brazil’s Formiga surpasses the number with her participation in seven editions of the competition.

Ebi made her World Cup debut for Nigeria at the 2003 edition in the US. She was 20 years old when she came on for late Ifeanyi Chiejine in a 3-0 loss to North Korea in the Falcons’ opening game of the tournament.

She had started her career with the erstwhile Nigerian women’s football powerhouse Omidiran Babes.

The defender continued her development — sharpening her grit and determination — with the Oshogbo-based team and was also named in the Falcons’ squad for the 2007 Women’s World Cup in China.

Ebi started the first two games as Nigeria crashed out in the group stage with just one point.

A year after the competition, Bayelsa Queens came calling, and Ebi heeded. She won laurels with the club before her eventual sojourn to Europe.

She moved to Sakarya Spor Club on a one-year deal. Then a stint at Pitea FC was followed by Djurgardens IF, both in the Swedish Damallsvenskan.

Ebi joined the Turkish female team Atasehir Belediyesi Spor Club in 2011.

Shortly, she was named in Uche Eucharia’s squad for the 2011 women’s World Cup in Germany. She was ever-present in the Falcons side that defeated Canada 1-0 but finished shy of a knockout stage ticket.

The Nigerian went on to captain Atasehir to the league title in 2012. At the Turkish club, Ebi was often utilized as a forward. She scored 27 goals in the 2013 campaign, catapulting her team to the second spot in the league.

Ebi joined FC Minsk in the Belarusian Premier League in 2014 and helped the club to the title. She featured for Nigeria in the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada. Nigeria also failed to progress beyond the group stage with just one point.

The defender went on to win the Belarusian Women’s Cup and the Belarusian Women’s Super Cup twice.

Ebi moved to China and signed for Henan Jianye in 2017.

She was a lynchpin of the Falcons side that qualified for the second round in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.

Ebi left China after three years and returned to Europe with Levante Las Planas in 2022.

Her contract with the Spanish side ran out after a season, and the experienced player has now returned to the Nigerian Women’s Football League (NWFL) in the books of Abia Angels.

Meanwhile, the 3-2 win over Australia on Thursday sends the Nigerians to the top of group B marginally on a superior number of goals scored by the team.