In December last year, Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi was the toast of many Nigerian soccer fans following the part she played in the team’s triumph at the 10th African Women Nation’s Cup in Cameroon.
Ebi, who was playing for FC Minsk of Belarus, injured her right arm in the final against the Lionesses of Cameroon in Yaoundé on December 3. The Falcons won the match 1-0 to lift their eight title.
Though, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) paid the medical bills at the Abuja National Hospital, where she had a surgery, the defender is said to be currently ‘lamenting’ in Lagos due to alleged neglect by the Women Football League Board headed by Aisha Falode.
Ebi, who has been recuperating in Lagos since she was discharged from the National Hospital in Abuja last December, lost her contract with FC Minsk of Belarus due to the injury.
The Guardian learnt yesterday that the never-say-die defender is feeling sad that no official of the Falode-led Women League Board has deemed it fit to check on her since December till now.
“Onome Ebi is very sad at the moment because she feels abandoned by the NFF, particularly the Falode led Women League Board,” a source told The Guardian. “Onome needs money for her daily up keep because she has spent a lot of money trying to make sure she return to football. She sustained the injury while playing for the national team and she has lost her contract in Belarus.”
The source added yesterday that Ebi might join compatriot Asisat Oshoala in the money-spinning Chinese league when she recovers fully from the arm injury.
“Her managers are looking at the option of securing a club for her in China in May/June this year, but that will depend on how fast she recovers from the arm injury.”
Contacted yesterday, Ebi refused to comment on her relationship with the NFF. She simply said: “I am in my house in Lagos still recuperating, but I hope to bounce back soon.”