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Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade was left in tears after sustaining an injury during Nigeria’s 5-0 victory over Comoros in the second leg of the 2028 Olympic Games qualifying series on Tuesday, raising concerns about her fitness as the team prepares for a crucial encounter against Morocco.
The forward went down in the first half of the encounter at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, clutching her ankle and visibly struggling with the pain. The incident prompted immediate concern among her teammates and the technical crew, as medical attention was required before she could leave the pitch. Blueprint reports
Ajibade was subsequently carried off on a stretcher, with Florence Ijamilusi introduced as her replacement. The sight of the captain in tears as she was helped off the field became one of the most worrying moments of an otherwise memorable evening for Nigerian football, with the team eventually completing a convincing 7-0 aggregate victory to advance to the third round of the African qualifiers.
Although the Super Falcons maintained their dominance after losing their captain, the injury has raised questions about Ajibade’s availability for the next stage of the campaign. The precise nature and severity of the injury had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting.
Distressing moment for Super Falcons
The incident occurred during the opening half as Nigeria sought to build on their 2-0 advantage from the first leg. The Super Falcons had started with attacking intent, looking to secure qualification without leaving the outcome in doubt.
However, the focus shifted from the contest when Ajibade went down holding her ankle. The captain was visibly uncomfortable and appeared to be in considerable pain, with reports from the match describing her as limping and crying before she was stretchered off.
Her reaction underlined the discomfort she was experiencing, although it would be premature to draw conclusions about the seriousness of the injury based solely on the scenes from the pitch.
The medical team attended to her before she was taken off, and the decision to substitute her meant Nigeria had to reorganise their attacking options before the interval. Ijamilusi was brought on to take her place, with the coaching crew left to manage the remainder of the encounter without one of the team’s most influential players.
For the captain, the abrupt end to her involvement was a frustrating interruption to a match in which Nigeria were expected to progress comfortably. For the team, it introduced an unwelcome uncertainty at a time when attention was beginning to turn towards a more demanding stage of the qualification campaign.
Ijamilusi steps in as Nigeria continue goal rush
Despite the setback, the Super Falcons did not allow Ajibade’s departure to derail their performance. They continued to control the match and eventually overwhelmed Comoros with five unanswered goals.
Nigeria broke the deadlock in the 41st minute when Toni Payne finished after Uchenna Kanu capitalised on a defensive error and supplied the assist. The goal gave the Super Falcons a 1-0 lead at half-time and extended their aggregate advantage to 3-0.
The second half brought a more ruthless display. Kanu doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 58th minute, heading home a delivery from Ijamilusi, who had entered the game as Ajibade’s replacement.
Payne then scored her second goal of the evening in the 63rd minute after Blessing Okpe worked past two Comoros defenders and created the opportunity. Kanu followed with her second in the 66th minute, once again converting an Ijamilusi delivery to make it 4-0.
Christy Ucheibe completed the scoring in the 71st minute, converting from the penalty spot after Okpe was fouled inside the box.
The result gave Nigeria a 5-0 victory on the day and a 7-0 aggregate triumph across the two legs. Ijamilusi’s contribution after coming on demonstrated the depth available to the technical crew, but the team’s impressive result did not remove the uncertainty surrounding its captain.
Why Ajibade’s fitness matters
Ajibade is an important figure in the Super Falcons setup, combining attacking ability with leadership responsibilities as captain. Her involvement goes beyond her contribution in front of goal, as she is one of the experienced players expected to help guide the team through high-pressure international fixtures.
Nigeria’s progress to the next round means the team will face Morocco, a side expected to offer a considerably tougher test than Comoros. The tie will demand tactical discipline, attacking efficiency and the availability of key players who can influence the outcome over two legs.
Ajibade’s condition will therefore be closely monitored by the coaching crew and supporters. If she is unavailable for the next round, Nigeria may have to adjust their plans and redistribute some of the responsibilities she carries within the team. However, the extent of any such adjustment will depend on the medical findings and her recovery.
It is important to note that no confirmed diagnosis or recovery timeline was immediately available after Tuesday’s match. Her being stretchered off and visibly distressed does not, on its own, establish whether she has suffered a minor injury or a more serious problem.
The coming medical assessment will be crucial in determining the next steps and whether she can return to action in time for the next stage of the Olympic qualifying campaign.
Morocco tie presents next challenge
The Super Falcons are pursuing another appearance at the Olympic Games after returning to the women’s football tournament at Paris 2024, ending a 16-year absence. Their latest victory represents a positive step towards qualifying for Los Angeles 2028, but the road ahead is expected to become more challenging.
Nigeria’s 2-0 victory in the first leg, followed by Tuesday’s 5-0 win, showed their superiority over Comoros. The aggregate result also demonstrated their ability to convert dominance into goals, with seven scored and none conceded across the two encounters.
Morocco, however, will provide a stronger measure of Nigeria’s readiness for the remaining stages of the campaign. The Super Falcons will need to build on their attacking performance while ensuring that their squad is prepared for the physical and tactical demands of the next round.
For now, the immediate concern is Ajibade’s health. While Nigeria can celebrate a commanding victory and progress in the Olympic qualifiers, the captain’s painful exit has left a question mark over the team’s preparations for the next challenge.
The Super Falcons will be hoping for encouraging news from her medical assessment, as supporters await confirmation of the nature of the injury and the time she may need to recover.
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