Onome Ebi is the most active defender in the Super
Falcons fold.The versatile player is currently on the books of Turkish
champions Atasehir Belediyesi.She is
without doubt a regular in the set-up of the ambitious side.Onome’s ability has
never been questioned as she has played alongside great defenders like Yinka
Kudaisi, Kikelomo Ajayi and a hosts of others at home and abroad.She has been
consistent and her inclusion in the Nigerian side has never caused ripples
among the ever critical Naija football juntas.
Rave reviews was showered on her by technocrats of the game.In
one of her ruthless shows,she gave Perpetua Nkwocha no room to operate, during
a Nigeria Female League match between Omidiran Babes and the highly fancied Pelican
Stars.Fans predicted that a star had arrived.A delighted Sam Okpodu,then the
chief coach of Super Falcons was in attendance.He made recommendations and
invited her to the national side.
In 2003,she made the cut to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.To
some followers of the game,it was a surprise considering the gluts of big names
in the squad.She was meant to understudy Florence Omagbemi, Nkiru Okosieme,
Florence Iweta and Kikelomo Ajayi.She featured in a couple of games during the
tournament.
After the tournament, Bayelsa Queens came calling.She
accepted an offer which she described as, ‘’good for my career’’.Yenogoa was a
good hunting ground for her.She won laurels and made her fanatical followers
happy.
In 2008, Onome announced that she was not going to extend
her deal with Bayelsa Queens. She moved to Sakarya Spor Club on a one-year deal. She had stints
at Pitea FC and Djurgardens IF,both in
the Swedish Damallsvenskan.
She joined Turkish female team Atasehir Belediyesi
Spor Club to aid the team’s UEFA Champions League project(Women
Version).Onome captained Atasehir to the league title in 2012.She has netted
almost 30 goals since she joined the club from Sweden.The Nigeria centre-back
has often been utilized as a forward.She has scored ten goals in the current
campaign,thus catapulting her team to the second spot in the Turkish
Professional Female League.
Major tournament appearances in the colours of Nigeria
includes the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups, African Women Championship(2008,
2010 and 2012).The one-time AWC winner was a member of the 2007 All African
Games victorious squad and the 2008 Olympic team that crashed out in the
first round.She has made a total of 58 international caps in the colours of her
fatherland.
BETTER PLAYER.
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