Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene says Nigerian women players treated “like trash” amid CAN Feminine 2026 spotlight

Nigeria midfielder Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene has condemned what she describes as deeply misogynistic attitudes towards women footballers in her country, saying social media users “consider women as trash” as the CAN Feminine 2026 gets under way.

The 32-year-old, one of the most decorated players in Nigeria’s history, has spoken out in an interview with BBC Sport Africa, accusing sections of the public of demeaning married players and mothers and questioning their place in the national team.

Okobi-Okeoghene was recalled by defending champions Nigeria earlier this year after a four-year absence, having given birth to her son in 2024. Her return for the Super Falcons’ preparations for the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations feminine was met with criticism online, with some questioning whether a married woman and mother should still be involved.

“In Nigeria, most fans think that a married woman is old,” she said. “When a woman gives birth, she is old, she no longer has the strength to do what she does. I see so many comments on Instagram, on social media in general. These comments give me the strength to continue, because they consider women as trash in this country and it’s terrible. They keep making us feel bad about ourselves.”

The midfielder, a four-time winner of the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations feminine with 75 caps for Nigeria, believes such attitudes have been shaping the personal and professional decisions of her team-mates in the national side for some time.

Social media abuse and impact on careers

Okobi-Okeoghene says the hostility directed towards players who marry or become mothers is particularly visible on social media, where abusive posts frequently question their commitment, fitness and value to the Super Falcons.

She argues that the language used online goes beyond criticism of performance and reflects a wider contempt for women, reinforcing the idea that female players are disposable once they reach certain life stages.

According to the midfielder, this climate of judgement contributes to a culture in which some players feel pressured to delay or avoid marriage and motherhood, fearing it will end their international careers or expose them to sustained public abuse.

She maintains that the abuse has not discouraged her from returning to the top level but has instead hardened her resolve to keep playing and to speak out about the pressures facing women footballers in Nigeria.

A decorated career under scrutiny

Despite a record that includes four continental titles and dozens of appearances for her country, Okobi-Okeoghene’s recall ahead of the CAN Feminine 2026 has been overshadowed by the debate around her private life.

Her case has become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing conversation about the role and status of women in sport, with her critics using her age, marital status and motherhood as arguments against her selection.

Okobi-Okeoghene insists that such views are rooted in prejudice rather than any objective assessment of form or fitness, and says they reflect a broader problem with how women athletes are perceived and discussed in Nigerian society.

As the Super Falcons begin the defence of their title at the CAN Feminine 2026, the midfielder’s comments highlight a stark divide between the team’s success on the pitch and the discrimination she says many of its players face off it.