Super Falcons and Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala has been ruled ou from the WAFCON after suffering from injury in the first game of the tournament.
Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoalis set to miss the remainder of the 2022 CAF Africa Women Cup of Nations after suffering an injury in Nigeria’s opening game against South Africa.
The defending champions lost their opening game of the tournament to South Africa, with Oshoala peripheral in a largely flat Nigeria performance.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s director of communications, Ademola Olajire stated that the forward would be out for at least four weeks.
“The team’s medical crew declared on Wednesday that Oshoala sustained a Grade 2 Medial Ligament strain, and would be out of action for between two and three weeks, with another one or two weeks period for recovery,” Olajire said.
The Barcelona forward suffered the injury within the opening six minutes of the game, when she was caught in a tackle with a Banyana Banyana defender, and needed heavy strapping to continue.
She limped for the next 76 minutes until she went down on her own in the box before being subbed off with eight minutes of play left.
Olajire state that the forward is set to leave for Spain on Thursday to get treatment for the injury as requested by her club medic.
“Medics at her club, FC Barcelona Feminine, advised that she return to Spain,” he told media.
Oshoala’s injury is a blow for the Super Falcons who were looking to secure the four-time Africa Women’s Player of the Year to spearhead their quest for a fourth title on the bounce and a 10th overall.
Her absence is a further complication ahead of Thursday’s match against group leaders Botswana, when Nigeria will aim to get their campaign back on track. The Super Falcons were already shorthanded after losing Real Madrid star Chidinma Okeke just before the start of the tournament.
