Ifeoma Onumonu

{{short description|Nigerian professional footballer (born 1994)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ifeoma Onumonu

| image = Onumonu signs for Montpellier.png

| caption = Onumonu in 2024

| fullname = Ifeoma Chukwufumnaya Onumonu{{Soccerway|480316|accessdate=20 June 2021}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|2|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States,

| height = 1.78 m

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Montpellier

| clubnumber = 11

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 = 2012–2016

| college1 = California Golden Bears

| collegecaps1 = 82

| collegegoals1 = 33

| years1 = 2017

| clubs1 = Boston Breakers

| caps1 = 18

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018–2019

| clubs2 = Portland Thorns

| caps2 = 8

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2019

| clubs3 = Reign FC

| caps3 = 20

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2020–2023

| clubs4 = Gotham FC

| caps4 = 55

| goals4 = 8

| years5 = 2024

| clubs5 = Utah Royals

| caps5 = 5

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2024–

| clubs6 = Montpellier

| caps6 = 6

| goals6 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2017

| nationalteam1 = United States U23

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2021–

| nationalteam2 = Nigeria

| nationalcaps2 = 14

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| club-update = 18:45, 10 November 2024 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 9 July 2023 (UTC)

}}

Ifeoma Chukwufumnaya Onumonu ({{pronunciation|Ig-Ifeoma_Chukwufumnaya_Onumonu.ogg|listen|help=no}}; born 25 February 1994) is a professional footballer who plays for Montpellier HSC in the French Première Ligue. She previously played for Utah Royals, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Reign FC, Portland Thorns FC, and Boston Breakers in the National Women's Soccer League. Onumonu played collegiate soccer at the University of California, Berkeley and in high school at Los Osos High School.{{cite web |url=https://calbears.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/ifeoma-onumonu/8269 |title=Ifeoma Onumonu |website=Cal Bears |access-date=22 April 2021}}

Born in the United States, Onumonu has represented Nigeria since 2021.

Club career

=Boston Breakers=

After playing collegiately at the University of California, Berkeley, Onumonu was drafted by the Boston Breakers with the 8th overall pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thebentmusket.com/2017/1/12/14259220/boston-breakers-complete-nwsl-2017-draft-six-picks |title=Breakers complete 2017 draft with six picks |last=Yang |first=Stephanie |date=12 January 2017 |website=The Bent Musket |access-date=13 January 2017 |archive-date=14 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114190910/http://www.thebentmusket.com/2017/1/12/14259220/boston-breakers-complete-nwsl-2017-draft-six-picks |url-status=dead }} She appeared in 18 games for Boston in her rookie season.

=Portland Thorns=

After the Boston Breakers folded ahead of the 2018 season, Onumonu was selected by the Portland Thorns in the 2018 Dispersal Draft.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/NWSL/status/958457275030568961 |title=With the 22nd pick in today's dispersal draft, @ThornsFC select Ifeoma Onumonu. |last=NWSL |date=30 January 2018 |website=@NWSL |language=en |access-date=30 January 2018}} She was waived on 8 May 2019, after playing in eight games.{{cite news |title=Thorns FC sign three players to supplemental roster |url=https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/05/08/thorns-fc-sign-three-players-supplemental-roster |access-date=14 May 2019 |publisher=Portland Timbers |date=8 May 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509005134/https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/05/08/thorns-fc-sign-three-players-supplemental-roster |url-status=dead }}

=Reign FC=

On 14 May 2019, Onumonu signed with Reign FC as a National Team Replacement player.{{cite news |title=REIGN FC SIGN IFEOMA ONUMONU AS NATIONAL TEAM REPLACEMENT PLAYER |url=https://www.reignfc.com/news/2019/5/14/reign-fc-sign-ifeoma-onumonu-as-national-team-replacement-player |access-date=14 May 2019 |publisher=Reign FC |date=14 May 2019 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514173834/https://www.reignfc.com/news/2019/5/14/reign-fc-sign-ifeoma-onumonu-as-national-team-replacement-player |url-status=dead }} After stellar performances, she earned a supplemental roster spot on 28 June.{{cite news |title=IFEOMA ONUMONU SIGNED TO SUPPLEMENTAL ROSTER |url=https://www.reignfc.com/news/2019/6/28/ifeoma-onumonu-signed-to-supplemental-roster |access-date=28 June 2019 |publisher=Reign FC |date=28 June 2019 |archive-date=28 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628210722/https://www.reignfc.com/news/2019/6/28/ifeoma-onumonu-signed-to-supplemental-roster |url-status=dead }}

=NJ/NY Gotham FC=

On 17 January 2020, Onumonu was traded to Sky Blue FC.{{cite news |title=Sky Blue FC Acquires Ifeoma Onumonu from Reign FC |url=https://skybluefc.com/2020/01/17/sky-blue-fc-acquires-ifeoma-onumonu-from-reign-fc/ |access-date=17 January 2020 |publisher=Sky Blue FC |date=17 January 2020 |archive-date=24 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624110020/https://skybluefc.com/2020/01/17/sky-blue-fc-acquires-ifeoma-onumonu-from-reign-fc/ |url-status=dead}} She re-signed with the team on a one-year deal on 20 January 2022 based on her strong performance during the 2021 NWSL season, which saw her named to the Best XI Second Team.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Gotham |date=20 January 2022 |title=NJ/NY Gotham FC Solidifies Forward Core, Re-Signing Ifeoma Onumonu |url=https://www.gothamfc.com/news_article/show/1204407-nj-ny-gotham-fc-solidifies-forward-core-re-signing-ifeoma-onumonu |access-date=19 March 2022 |website=NJ/NY Gotham FC |language=en-us}}{{cite news |date=17 October 2021 |title=NWSL Announces the Winners of Mastercard Inaugural 2021 Best XI Awards |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-the-winners-of-mastercard-inaugural-2021-best-xi-awards |access-date=10 January 2022}}

On 25 October 2022, Onumonu signed a new three-year contract that would keep her with Gotham FC through the 2025 season.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=J. W. S. |date=25 October 2022 |title=NWSL free agency tracker: Ifeoma Onumonu signs with Gotham |url=https://justwomenssports.com/nwsl-free-agency-tracker-signings-updates-2022-2023/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=Just Women's Sports |language=en-US}}

= Utah Royals =

On 30 December 2023, Onumonu was traded to Utah Royals for $40,000 in allocation money.{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Gotham FC |date=30 December 2023 |title=Gotham FC Trades Forward Ify Onumonu to Utah Royals for Allocation Money |url=https://www.gothamfc.com/news_article/show/1295567-gotham-fc-trades-forward-ify-onumonu-to-utah-royals-for-allocation-money |access-date=30 December 2023 |website=NJ/NY Gotham FC |language=en-us}}

= Montpellier HSC =

On 9 September 2024, Montpellier HSC announced that they had signed Onumonu as a free agent.{{Cite web |last=Rapheal |date=2024-09-10 |title=Super Falcons striker, Onumonu completes transfer to Montpellier |url=https://thesun.ng/super-falcons-striker-onumonu-completes-transfer-to-montpellier/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en-US}}

International career

Onumonu has represented the United States on the Under-23 Women's National Team.{{Cite news |url=http://www.calbears.com/news/2017/1/5/womens-soccer-former-bears-head-to-u-23-camp-with-us-soccer.aspx |title=Former Bears Head To U-23 WNT Camp |access-date=13 January 2017}} In June 2021 she received her first call up to the Nigeria Women's National Team.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Gotham |date=9 June 2021 |title=Ifeoma Onumonu Earns First Call Up for Nigeria Women's National Team |url=https://www.gothamfc.com/news_article/show/1168550-ifeoma-onumonu-earns-first-call-up-for-nigeria-women-s-national-team |access-date=9 June 2021 |website=NJ/NY Gotham FC |language=en-us}}

On 16 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{Cite web |author1=Ryan Dabbs |date=14 June 2023 |title=Nigeria Women's World Cup 2023 squad: most recent call ups |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/nigeria-women-world-cup-2023-squad-team-roster-players |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=fourfourtwo.com |language=en}}

Onumonu was initially named as an alternate for Nigeria's squad at the 2024 Summer Olympics, but was later elevated to the full 18-player roster after Halimatu Ayinde dropped out due to injury.{{Cite web |last=samnihof |date=2024-08-03 |title=Nigeria National Team for the Paris 2024 Olympics |url=https://womenfootball.blog/nigeria-national-team-for-the-paris-2024-olympics/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=Women's Football News |language=en-US}}

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1.	11 April 2022	Starlight Stadium, Langford, Canada	{{fbw\|CAN}}	align=center\|1–0	align=center\| 2–2	Friendly
2.	7 July 2022	Stade Moulay Hassan, Rabat, Morocco	{{fbw\|BOT}}	align=center\|1–0	align=center\| 2–0	2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations
3.	30 November 2023	Stade Raymond Kopa, Angers, France	{{fbw\|FRA}}	align=center\|1–2	align=center\| 1–2	Friendly

Personal life

In 2024, Onumonu appeared in the first season of The Offseason, a reality television series following a group of NWSL players training before the new season.{{cite news|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/the-offseason-episode-one-draws-2-5-million-views-within-24-hours|title=The Offseason Episode One Draws 2.5 Million Views Within 24 Hours |date=2024-10-19|publisher=National Women's Soccer League|access-date=2024-01-04}}

Awards and honors

NJ/NY Gotham FC

NWSL Championship: 2023{{Cite web |date=11 November 2023 |title=NWSL Championship highlights: Gotham FC crowned champions as Rapinoe, Krieger end careers |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/nwsl/2023/11/11/nwsl-championship-megan-rapinoe-live-updates-ol-reign-gotham-fc/71539239007/ |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

Individual

NWSL Best XI Second Team: 2021
NWSL Team of the Month: June 2019,{{Cite web |title=National Women's Soccer League Official Site {{!}} NWSL |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/june-team-of-the-month-2 |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=www.nwslsoccer.com|date=8 July 2019 }} August 2021{{Cite web |title=National Women's Soccer League Official Site {{!}} NWSL |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-august-team-of-the-month |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=www.nwslsoccer.com|date=2 September 2021 }}
NWSL Player of the Week: 2019 week 10,{{Citation |title=Ifeoma Onumonu, Reign FC {{!}} Week 10 #NWSL Player of the Week | date=25 June 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnqein2WYvw |language=en |access-date=2022-03-19}} 2021 week 13{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/nwsl/status/1428088125335605248 |website=Twitter |language=en |title=It's not 𝓲𝓯 she balls out, it's when she balls out 😏 |access-date=13 November 2023}}

References

External links

{{sports links}}
{{NWSL|ifeoma-chukwufumnaya-onumonu|Ifeoma Onumonu}}
[https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/players/ify-onumonu/ Ify Onumonu #11] at Utah Royals
[https://www.gothamfc.com/25-onumonu Ifeoma Onumonu #25] at NJ/NY Gotham FC
[https://calbears.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/ifeoma-onumonu/8269 Ifeoma Onumonu #22] at California Golden Bears
[https://web.archive.org/web/20170116162522/http://www.ussoccer.com/players/2017/01/05/23/28/ifeoma-onumonu Ifeoma Onumonu – Under-23 Women's National Team] at U.S. Soccer (archived)

{{Montpellier HSC (women) squad}}{{Navboxes

| title = Nigeria squads

| bg = #008751

| fg = white

| list1 =

}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Nigerian women's footballers

Category:21st-century Nigerian sportswomen

Category:Women's association football forwards

Category:Nigeria women's international footballers