Esther Okoronkwo Returns from Injury to Boost Super Falcons Ahead of 2026 WAFCON

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) have received a timely boost with the return of forward Esther Okoronkwo, who is back in action after spending 56 days on the sidelines through injury.

The 29-year-old made her long-awaited comeback on Sunday, coming off the bench in the 65th minute as AFC Toronto claimed a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Rise in the Northern Super League. She replaced Sarah Stratigakis and helped her side secure a crucial win that ended a two-match winless streak.

It was Okoronkwo’s first appearance since suffering a meniscus and hamstring injury during a goalless draw against Halifax on May 3, an injury that initially raised concerns over her availability for this year’s continental championship.

Having resumed full training earlier this month, the Super Falcons forward has now completed her recovery just in time for Nigeria’s title defence in Morocco.

AFC Toronto felt the absence of their Nigerian star, winning only one of five league matches while recording two draws and two defeats. Her return provides a major lift as the club looks to climb further up the table.

After the teams went into halftime level at 1-1, second-half strikes from Lauren Rowe and Kaylee Hunter sealed all three points for AFC Toronto. The victory moved the club into fourth place on 12 points, seven behind league leaders Ottawa Rapid with a game in hand.

Okoronkwo heads into WAFCON with confidence after enjoying an outstanding previous continental campaign, where she played a key role in Nigeria’s record-extending 10th African title. She finished that tournament with two goals and seven assists, establishing herself as one of the Super Falcons’ most influential attacking players.

Her return is a welcome development for head coach Justin Madugu, who regains one of his most dangerous forwards ahead of the tournament, which will be held in Morocco from July 25 to August 16.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and Malawi as the Super Falcons bid to retain their African crown.

Okoronkwo’s return not only strengthens AFC Toronto for the remainder of their league campaign but also provides Nigeria with a significant attacking boost as they chase another WAFCON triumph.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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