Super Falcons Striker Ini Umotong has announced her retirement from professional football at the age of 28.
She made the shocking announcement through her official instagram account on Thursday.
The former Brighton and Lewes striker said she wants to explore new opportunity with the sports, having no secret of her desire to go into football administration when she retires.
“A trip down memory lane. I’m extremely grateful for my playing career and the incredible memories, experiences and friendships I’ve had along the way,” Umotong wrote on instragram.
“Really excited for my next opportunity within the sport that has given me so much already. Here’s to the future.”
Umotong turned professional with Portsmouth in 2014 and netted 54 goals in 45 outings for Pompey. She went on to fulfill her dreams of playing for Nigeria in 2015 and eventually made Nigeria’s squad to the Women’s World Cup in Canada.
During a later stint at Brighton & Hove Albion, she earned a Nigeria recall for the pre-2019 World Cup camp and finally broke her international duck in a 3-0 win over Romania.
Having left Brighton in January 2020, the Calabar-born striker went on to enjoy a short spell at Vaxjo in Sweden, where she scored twice to help the Damallsvenskan side to top flight safety.
Upon her return to England this January, she teamed up with ambitious FA Women’s Championship side Lewes on an 18-month deal, explaining that:”I loved it, but the opportunity came up in England to study an MBA in Football Industries which I couldn’t pass up.”
Her return to England had permitted her to continue her studies following her graduation with a first-class degree in economics in 2017. Upon the possible completion of her MBA, she has decided to hang her boots and will now be looking to launch a new career in football administration.
Source – Savidnews
