Ajibade to undergo MRI after being stretchered off in Nigeria’s win

Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade will have an MRI scan after suffering an injury during the Super Falcons’ 5-0 victory over Comoros in the second leg of their 2028 Olympic women’s football qualifying tie.

The midfielder was taken off on a stretcher in the 23rd minute after colliding with a Comoros defender at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State. Folashade Ijamilusi came on as her replacement.

Although Nigeria completed a 7-0 aggregate victory, the injury to Ajibade overshadowed a convincing performance that secured the Super Falcons a meeting with Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses in the third round of qualifying.

Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu each scored twice in Tuesday’s second leg, while Christy Ucheibe completed the scoring with a penalty.

Speaking after the match, Super Falcons caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen said the medical team had taken Ajibade to hospital to establish the extent of the injury.

“Ajibade, I have not heard anything. I was with the medical team and they said they are taking her to the hospital for an MRI to ascertain the degree of the injury,” Eguavoen told reporters.

“Hopefully, before we get back to the hotel we will know. As soon as we have information I’m not the one to give it, the medical team will contact the Head of Media, and then we’ll get an update on Ajibade’s injury.

“Unfortunately, we lost Ajibade early in the game. I think and I hope that the injury is very minute.”

Ajibade, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2024 Olympic Games in France. She started all three of the Super Falcons’ matches at the tournament, against Brazil, Spain and Japan.

The 2028 Olympic women’s football qualification campaign will continue with Nigeria’s third-round tie against Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses.