“Some Of My Teamates Scared Of Marriage Over Fear Of Losing Super Falcons’Place” — Ngozi Okobi On Challenges Of Female Footballers

Super Falcons midfielder Ngozi Okobi has opened up about the challenges female footballers face, revealing that many players are afraid of getting married because they believe it could cost them a place in the national team.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Okobi said societal perceptions often make married women and mothers appear “too old” to continue competing at the highest level.

“You see, most of the girls are so scared to get married because they feel by the time they get married, they won’t be called to the national team anymore,” she said.

According to the midfielder, many fans wrongly assume that marriage and motherhood diminish a woman’s ability to perform.

“Most of the fans out there, they feel when a woman is married, she is old. When a woman gives birth, she is old. She doesn’t have the strength to do whatever she is doing.”

Okobi, however, insisted that being an athlete does not prevent a woman from building a family or pursuing a successful career.

“Me being a soccer player doesn’t stop me from being a wife. It doesn’t stop me from being a career woman, an athlete,” she added.

Reflecting on her own journey after childbirth, the footballer described motherhood as one of the toughest experiences she has faced. She revealed that she resumed training just five months postpartum and struggled to regain her fitness after gaining weight.
“I started my training five months postpartum. It was tough,” she recalled.

Despite the challenges, Okobi credited her husband, family and teammates for helping her return to the game.

“I have a husband and a family who support me. I’m not telling you that my career is more than my child, but it means a lot to me,” she said.

She stressed that motherhood did not take away her talent.

“It didn’t take out the skills in me, it didn’t take out the ability. It only took out my fitness. Every day I wake up and look at my son, he motivates me to go do more.”

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