Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been hit by an injury concern after captain Rasheedat Ajibade was taken to hospital for an MRI scan following her withdrawal during Nigeria’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Comoros in the second leg of the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Sports247 reports that the Paris Saint-Germain forward sustained the injury in the 24th minute of Tuesday’s encounter at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, forcing her to leave the pitch in tears.
Ajibade had been enjoying an impressive start to the contest before the unfortunate incident brought her participation to an abrupt end.
Her emotional departure immediately raised concerns about the seriousness of the injury, particularly with Nigeria preparing for another important qualifying assignment.
According to the Super Falcons’ medical staff, the Nigerian captain has been taken to hospital for further examination to determine the extent of the injury. The medical team confirmed that an official update would be communicated once the MRI results become available.
For now, the exact nature and severity of the injury remain unknown, with further assessment required before any conclusions can be reached regarding her recovery period.
The development will be closely monitored by the Super Falcons’ technical crew, teammates and supporters, who will be hoping for positive news concerning the influential forward.
Despite losing their captain early in the encounter, the Super Falcons produced an outstanding attacking display to dismantle Comoros 5-0. Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu scored twice each, while Christy Ucheibe added another goal to complete the convincing victory.
The result followed Nigeria’s 2-0 first-leg triumph, securing a commanding 7-0 aggregate success and confirming their progression to the next round of the Olympic qualification campaign.
However, the celebrations were accompanied by concern over Ajibade’s condition. Nigeria will face Morocco in the next round as they continue their pursuit of qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Ajibade’s leadership, experience and attacking qualities make her an important figure within the national team, and her potential absence would present a challenge for the coaching staff.
Nevertheless, the Super Falcons will await the medical team’s findings before determining the next steps regarding their captain’s fitness.
For Ajibade, the immediate priority will be receiving an accurate diagnosis and beginning the appropriate recovery process.
While Nigeria’s emphatic victory over Comoros provided plenty of reasons to celebrate, attention has now shifted to the fitness of Rasheedat Ajibade, with the Super Falcons hoping their captain’s injury proves less serious than initially feared.
