Desire Oparanozie's last notable moment with the Super Falcons was her missed penalty during the shootout against England in the round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

After a grueling 120 minutes of goalless football, Nigeria was eliminated on penalties, with the former captain sending Nigeria's opening penalty high into the stands, shortly after George Stanway had also missed for England.

This miss was ironic, as Oparanozie was known for her proficiency in taking penalties, a crucial skill in a high-stakes game like this. She was substituted into the match with just six minutes left in extra time, indicating her specific role on the pitch.

After being absent from the team for approximately two years, her first appearance with the Falcons at the World Cup ended in disappointment, which likely played a role in her decision to retire.

What is truly surprising is that she has decided to retire from football at both club and international levels at the age of 29.

"To my fans, family, and friends, I want to express my gratitude for the love and support you've shown me throughout the years. It's time for me to gracefully exit the stage, as I believe there's no better moment than now. I am officially announcing my retirement from professional football, both at the club and international levels," Oparanozie made her retirement announcement via her social media handle on Wednesday.

"I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to every team and coach I've had the privilege to play for, every teammate I've had the honor of playing alongside, and every opponent I've faced. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey. Thank you, football. Thank you, Nigeria."

To say that Oparanozie was deeply saddened after the Falcons' elimination from the World Cup is an understatement. Even though the team received praise for their impressive performance, the striker, unlike some of her teammates, couldn't muster the courage to look into the camera during their departure and arrival in Nigeria.

Despite apologizing for the missed penalty, it's important to note that this incident cannot tarnish her legacy with the national team. In her 36 appearances for the Super Falcons, she scored an impressive 22 goals and contributed significantly to her country's success, winning four Women's Africa Cup of Nations titles.

Oparanozie's journey with the Nigerian national team began at the youth level, representing Nigeria twice at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2010 and 2012, where she scored two and three goals respectively. In 2010, Nigeria reached the final but lost 2-0 to hosts Germany, and in 2012, they reached the semi-finals, where they were defeated 2-0 by the United States.

During this period, she also earned a call-up to the Falcons for the 2010 African Women's Championship, now known as WAFCON. As a 17-year-old at the time, Oparanozie had the valuable opportunity to learn from the veteran striker Perpetua Nkwocha, who was the most prolific women's footballer on the continent during that era.

During the 2010 tournament, Oparanozie didn't remain in the shadows of Nkwocha, making her mark by scoring her first goal of the competition in a convincing 3-0 victory over Tanzania in the final group game. She continued to shine, scoring one goal each in the semi-final and final, contributing significantly to Nigeria's eighth continental title win in South Africa.

Although she missed the 2012 tournament, she made a triumphant return in 2014, 2016, and 2018, helping the Falcons secure the title on all three occasions. Her notable moments came in the 2014 and 2016 tournaments. In 2016, she scored a crucial 54th-minute goal against South Africa, securing Nigeria's spot in the final. Her late goal against Cameroon in the final led Nigeria to its 10th title victory.

"Desire Oparanozie's retirement comes as a significant surprise, but she has battled injuries for some time. She is undeniably one of the best Super Falcons strikers of all time. I vividly recall Cameroonian journalists joking with me in Yaoundé in 2017, suggesting that she used supernatural powers to score the winning goal in the 2016 WAFCON final. They couldn't believe it," journalist Nurudeen Obalola commented on X.

"Thank you for an incredible career. It has been a privilege to witness, comment on, and analyze your matches. That 86th-minute winner against Cameroon in the 2016 AWCON will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Nigerian football history," commented journalist Babatunde Koiki.

The striker participated in four Women's World Cups in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023 but did not manage to score in any of the tournaments.

Since joining the senior women's team, Oparanozie has consistently been one of the team's key players. When the transition to a new generation of players began in 2019, she was appointed as the team's new captain by coach Thomas Dennerby, who praised her for her "discipline and exemplary character."

However, her issues with the national team started when she assumed the captaincy role. After the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, she led calls for equal pay in Nigerian football, highlighting the disparity between the bonuses received by the male Super Eagles and the female Falcons. The players also protested against unpaid bonuses and allowances.

As a result, she faced a ban from the team, although the NFF, through its spokesperson Ademola Olajire, denied that her exclusion was related to the protest.

"Oparanozie remains a part of the team's future plans, and her recent omission is unrelated to her involvement in the protest during the World Cup in France, as she was not the only one involved. I believe she should continue to focus on improving her game and, if given the chance, strive for consistent selection."

The former Falcons captain criticized the NFF for suggesting that she needed to work harder to earn her place back on the team, especially after being dropped for subsequent matches.

"Improve my game and strive for consistent selection. For those who have been without a club for over a year now, how many matches did they participate in during the past year to warrant their inclusion?" she responded to Olajire's remarks.

Despite being overlooked for national team duties, Oparanozie maintained her focus at the club level, consistently demonstrating what the Nigeria Football Federation was missing by not inviting her. After leaving Turkey in 2014, she spent six years with Guingamp, scoring 45 goals in 106 games, leading fans to name a bus stop in Guingamp after her.

She also had a stint with Dijon between 2020 and 2022, scoring seven goals in 25 appearances.

Prior to playing abroad, she had spells with Bayelsa Queens and Delta Queens between 2010 and 2012.

In 2021, she could have been on the verge of leaving the national team unceremoniously. Therefore, her return to the Falcons after two years was a significant achievement, proving that she deserved her place on the team all along, even without the captaincy.

In the end, it's fair to say that she made the right decision by retiring after the 2023 World Cup, especially considering she was plagued by injuries during her last appearances for the Falcons, featuring for only six minutes in Australia and New Zealand.

Considering the tradition of the Falcons and Oparanozie's own early entry into the national team at the age of 17, it's just a matter of time before emerging talents like Opeyemi Ajakaye and Sebastine Flourish, who have recently impressed at the junior levels, break into the Falcons' lineup. Meanwhile, experienced players like Uchenna Kanu, Gift Monday, Esther Okoronkwo, and Raheedat Ajibade can continue to contribute to the team's success for a few more years.

Oparanozie's absence may not leave a significant void in the Falcons, given the talent among their forwards. Nevertheless, her decision to retire from football at the age of 29 comes as a surprise, and it will be intriguing to observe her future endeavors.

Should the Super Falcons eventually achieve equal pay, she will be remembered as one of the advocates for that cause, now that she has concluded her football journey.