July 24, (THEWILL) – Nigerian forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, returns to the Super Falcons’ lineup as they gear up to face Australia in Group B of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Scheduled to take place at Lang Park in Brisbane on Thursday, July 27, the Super Falcons are eager to secure their first victory in the tournament. Missing key players Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde, who were suspended due to red cards received in a previous tournament, the Nigerian team put on a defensive display in their opener against Canada, securing a goalless draw against the Olympic champions, with player of the match, Chiamaka Nnadozie, stopping a penalty to keep the deadlock.
As they prepare to face the host nation, Ajibade who plays for Atlético de Madrid, is brimming with confidence: “We’ve done it in big games, we’ve done it against big teams, and I trust the whole team. We have the capacity, we have the talent, we have the energy. We just have to bring in our A game, and it’s going to be a very fun game.”
Australia currently leads Group B after a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland, but the return of Ajibade and Ayinde to the matchday squad will undoubtedly increase their attacking options as both teams battle for a spot in the knockout rounds. Ajibade added: “It’s going to be a difficult game, playing against the host team in a very big stadium with so much crowd. We are going to play against a lot of factors on that day, but we have players.”
Nigeria will be without Deborah Abiodun, who was red-carded in the closing minutes of the match against Canada. Similarly, Australia will not have star player, Sam Kerr, due to a calf injury sustained during a training session before their opener. Both teams will need to rely on their depth and tactical strategies to overcome these absences and secure a crucial victory that could determine their fate in the tournament.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
