Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and head coach Justin Madugu have emphasised that no player is indispensable in Nigeria’s squad following the omission of star forward Asisat Oshoala from the recent friendly against Cameroon.
Oshoala, a key figure for Nigeria over the past decade with 37 goals in 61 appearances for Nigeria, was not called up for the 2-0 international friendly played at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
The 30-year-old, who plays for Bay FC in the NWSL, has had limited game time this season and last appeared for her club on 16 May. The reasons behind her absence from the friendly squad have not been officially confirmed.
Oshoala is one of the most celebrated African female footballer of all time, having won African Women’s Footballer of the Year a record six times. Photo Credit: ICON Sport
Speaking after the match, Ajibade said “The Super Falcons is a big and talented squad. No player is indispensable. Whenever anyone is given the chance, she steps up. If I’m not there or someone else is missing, those available will always rise to the occasion.”
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Head coach Madugu echoed her sentiments, stressing the importance of flexibility and squad depth
“Every game starts with a plan, but you must be flexible. Sometimes your initial strategy doesn’t work, so you switch to Plan B or even Plan C. What matters most is that the players are comfortable, perform well, and win.”
Nigeria Super Falcons. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Oshoala played a pivotal role in the Super Falcons’ victories at the 2016 and 2018 African Women’s Championships, notably scoring three goals in the 2018 tournament held in Ghana.
The squad selected for the friendly has an average age below 26, with experienced forward Francisca Ordega returning after last featuring in the Olympic qualifiers.
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Nigeria, nine-time Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, will compete in their 13th consecutive tournament later this year, drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana.
