Nigerian international, Desire Oparanozie has called it quit from playing the round leather game at the age of 29.
Oparanozie disclosed this through her official X account on Wednesday, September, 13, 2023.
“To my fans, family and friends, thank you for the show of love and support over the years. It’s time to take a bow, as I believe there is no better time than now. I’m officially announcing my retirement from professional football for both club and country,” she posted.
The forward added: “To every team and coach I have played for, to every mate I’ve played alongside, and to every opponent I have played against, thank you all for being part of this incredible journey. Thank you football, thank you Nigeria. Desire Ugochi Oparanozie ✍️.”
Oparanozie represented the Nigerian national team at junior and senior level – starting from the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she registered 2 goals. She went ahead to garner 22 goals in 35 appearances for Nigeria.
As regards laurels, she won the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) four times in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018; two-time winner of Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) with Delta Queens in 2011 and 2012. Oparanozie also claimed the Golden boot award at the 2014 African Women’s Cup of Nations.
Similarly, her club career started from Nigerian outfit, Bayelsa Queens Football Club – and she switched to Delta Queens Football Club in 2010.
From then on, she played for Luleburgaz 39 Spor (Turkey), Rossiyanka (Russia), Wolfsburg (Germany), Atasehir Belediyespor (Turkey) and Guingamp (France) – where she plied her trade between 2014 and 2020 – netting 45 goals in 106 matches.
Between 2020 and 2022, she was seen in the colours of Dijon, amassing 7 goals in 25 games; and eventually joined Wuhan Jianghan University in 2022 (China), where she ended her career.
