Nigeria striker Ini Umotong opens up on post-retirement plan

Nigeria international Ini Umotong says she wants to explore the business side of football when she retires from the round leather game.

Umotong was born in Calabar, Nigeria but was raised in the United Kingdom, where she was scouted by Birmingham City’s Center of Excellence at the age of five.

The 24-year-old juggled with playing for Portsmouth and Oxford United while studying at the University of Southampton to bag a first class degree in economics in 2017.

During her studies, she scored over 50 goals for Portsmouth women, had her international debut with Nigeria against Mali in 2015 and made the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup squad to Canada.

She also won the golden boot in English Women’s Premier League 2 and was named the league’s Players’ Player of the season during her stint with Oxford United in 2017.

And the Brighton striker, who eyes her second World Cup outing with Nigeria this summer in France, is aiming to contribute in the growth of the English Women's Super League administratively.

“After playing football, I would like to have a career on the business side of the game," Umotong told The Argus.

“Something to do with the commercial or the sponsorship side of football and just helping the growth of the game.

“That is something for the future and I think it goes hand in hand with my playing career. The league [English Women's Super League] is improving and it would be nice to help that growth.

"Playing in Women's Super League and the coaches we have here, I’m learning so much as a player. My game has come on a lot.

"I feel I am more competitive now after playing against better players. This league is going to help my development.”

Having returned to the Super Falcons' fold in January 2019 after 10-month hiatus, Umotong would hope to impress coach Thomas Dennerby in a bid to make the party to France.