Super Falcons midfielder Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene has called for a change in the way female athletes are perceived in Nigeria, insisting that marriage and motherhood should never be regarded as barriers to achieving success in professional football.
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The experienced midfielder said many female footballers continue to face unfair criticism after getting married or starting families, despite proving that they can still compete at the highest level of the game.
Speaking on the challenges confronting women in sport, Okobi-Okeoghene urged Nigerians to celebrate and encourage female athletes instead of questioning their ability to balance family life with their careers.
“Marriage and motherhood should never be seen as the end of a woman’s football career. Women can still compete at the highest level and continue to achieve great things,” she said.
The Super Falcons star revealed that the support she received from her husband, family and teammates played a significant role in helping her return to competitive football after giving birth.
“I was able to resume training just five months after giving birth because of the incredible support from my husband, my family and my teammates. Their encouragement made the journey much easier,” Okobi-Okeoghene added.
The midfielder stressed that being a professional footballer does not prevent women from successfully combining multiple responsibilities, insisting that athletes should not be forced to choose between their careers and family life.
Okobi-Okeoghene’s comments come at a time when more female footballers across the world are returning to elite competition after childbirth, with clubs and federations increasingly introducing policies that support maternity rights, childcare and career continuity.
The growing trend has helped reshape perceptions about motherhood in professional sport and demonstrated that athletes can continue to perform at the highest level after starting families.
The former Delta Queens star also appealed to fans on social media to be more supportive of women in sport, arguing that positive encouragement can help inspire the next generation of female athletes to pursue their dreams without fear of discrimination or stereotypes.
As women’s football continues to grow across Africa, Okobi-Okeoghene believes creating a more supportive environment for female athletes will be essential to sustaining the progress made by the Super Falcons and inspiring future generations to represent Nigeria on the global stage.
