Former Super Falcons winger Stella Mbachu has thrown her full support behind national team captain Rasheedat Ajibade ahead of tonight’s CAF Women’s Player of the Year showdown, insisting the Nigerian midfielder has every right to believe her name will be called when the continental spotlight falls in Morocco.
Mbachu, one of the most decorated Falcons players of her era, described Ajibade as the “heartbeat” of the Super Falcons’ 2025 WAFCON triumph and argued that her influence across the tournament puts her in a strong position relative to her Moroccan rivals.
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She stressed that Ajibade’s Player of the Tournament award was no fluke, noting that the PSG star carried the team through difficult moments and delivered world-class performances with consistency.
According to Mbachu, individual honours should reflect not only club brilliance but also leadership, resilience, and the ability to lift a team on the biggest African stage — qualities she believes Ajibade demonstrated “without question” during Nigeria’s triumphant WAFCON campaign. She added that the midfielder’s transition into national team captaincy has shown maturity, discipline and the kind of responsibility rarely seen in players of her age.
Mbachu acknowledged that Ajibade faces stiff competition from Morocco’s in-form stars, but insisted the Nigerian has a compelling case. She highlighted Ajibade’s all-round contribution — goals, assists, defensive work, leadership and tactical discipline — describing her as the complete modern midfielder.
The former Falcon warned, however, that CAF awards often involve tight margins and unpredictable voting patterns, urging Nigerians to support Ajibade regardless of the final outcome. “Whether she wins or not, what she has done for Nigeria this year speaks for itself,” she said.
Mbachu concluded by calling Ajibade a “symbol of Nigeria’s future,” insisting that her development, mentality and relentless hunger prove that the Super Falcons remain a dominant force in African women’s football.
