Nigeria defender, Onome Ebi has explained her reasons for joining Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership side, Naija Ratels FC for the upcoming 2023/24 season.
Following her exit from Spanish Liga F side, Levante Las Planas last November, the 40-year-old veteran defender returned to the Nigerian league after 15 years she left the domestic sense in 2008.
She made history by becoming the first female African football player to compete in six different FIFA Women’s World Cup competitions.
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, the former FK Minsk player gave details of her decision to return home, via her official social media page.
“My joining Naija Ratels is beyond playing football,” she posted on her Instagram.
“It’s about inspiring young upcoming female players from the grassroots to thank and believe that if they dare like I did, they can make history like I did in a climate where a woman have to do twice as much work to achieve success.
“I strongly think my story won’t be complete if I don’t accomplish the goal of giving back to the Nigerian league, which nurtured me to stardom.
“When I was much younger, I never had the opportunity to see or train with great legends like Florence Omagbemi and others who were my idols back then.
“Today, I’m a legend, making it in life as a Footballer in one of the most difficult climates.
“Any girl could possibly hope to ply a trade like football. I believe my joining Naija Ratels FC, with very young sets of players, is the best way to share my story of success and inspire female youngsters across Nigeria and Africa.
“I believe if I retire now like a lot of critics have suggested, without first impacting the Nigeria Women’s Football ecosystem, I would have failed a nation that gave me an opportunity to become a legend and through which I made history.
“My goal is to continue to promote women’s football at all levels and inspire grassroots female players to aspire to be better than me and my colleagues.
“With Naija Ratels FC, I’ll continue to shine the light as a source and be a source of encouragement and beacon of hope to other players. MY STORY IS COMPLETE AND ACHIEVED.”