Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene

Ngozi Sonia Okobi-Okeoghene (née Okobi; born 14 December 1993) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Levante Las Planas and the Nigeria women's national team.

Ngozzi Okobi-Okeoghene

Personal information
Full name	Ngozi Sonia Okobi-Okeoghene[1]
Birth name	Ngozi Sonia Okobi[2]
Date of birth	(1993-12-14) 14 December 1993 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth	Nigeria
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Levante Las Planas
Number	22
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2015	Delta Queens
2015	Washington Spirit	4	(0)
2016–2017	Vittsjö GIK	38	(3)
2018–2023	Eskilstuna United	107	(11)
2023–	Levante Las Planas	7	(0)
International career‡
2010–	Nigeria	27[3]	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 April 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 June 2015

Club career

On 23 June 2015, Washington Spirit announced a deal (in principle) for the attacker from her home-town club, Delta Queens of the Nigerian Women's Championship for an undisclosed fee; this made her the third Nigerian to move to the National Women's Soccer League club in 2015 behind attacker Francisca Ordega and the second in the World Cup behind defender, Josephine Chukwunonye.^[4]

On 6 January 2016, the Washington Spirit waived Okobi.^[5]

In February 2023, Okobi joined Spanish Liga F club Levante Las Planas.^[6]

International career

Ngozi played the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup with the Falconets (nickname of the younger Nigeria women's national football teams).

At senior level (nicknamed Super Falcons) she was part of the squads at the African Women's Championship tournaments of 2010, 2012 and 2014, winning two of them (2010 and 2014).^[7] She also played for Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.^[8][9]

Ngozi Okobi has played for the Nigerian team albeit the under 17 squad since 2008 and got her first senior call up immediately after the U-17 tournament in 2010. The forward registered her first international goal against Zambia where she aided Nigeria trounce the hosts 6–0 at the 2014 African Women's Championship.

Style of play

She is known for her resilience and prefers playing the coveted "10" role; just behind the striker though she can play in a number of positions including attacking midfielder, winger and right wing-back.^{[citation needed]}

Honours

Nigeria

• African Women's Championship (4): 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018

Individual

• IFFHS CAF Women's Team of the Decade 2011–2020^[10]

References

1. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: Nigeria" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
2. "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 – List of Players: Nigeria" (PDF). FIFA. 6 July 2015. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
3. "Profile". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
4. "Spirit sign Nigerian forward Ngozi Okobi". Washington Spirit. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
5. "Spirit Waives Forward Ngozi Sonia Okobi". 6 January 2016.
6. Bajela, Ebenezer (3 February 2023). "Falcons star Okobi-Okeoghene joins Levante". The Punch.
7. Janine Anthony (20 October 2014). "FEMME FATALE..!!!!!!!!".
8. "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ – Players – Ngozi-OKOBI". FIFA.com. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
9. "The O's upset Sweden in pulsating 3 all thriller". womenssoccerunited.com. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
10. "IFFHS Women's CAF Team Decade 2011–2020". The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). 28 January 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2023.

External links

• Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene at Soccerway