FIFAWWC: Ajibade pumped up for difficult match against the Aussie

 Super Eagles Rasheedat Ajibade is battle ready for what looks like a herculean task on Thursday when the Nigeria team play Australia in a must-win match in the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde could not be part of Coach Randy Waldrum's selected players for the match against Canada due to suspension.

But Waldrum is most likely to juggle the starting line-up, with Ayinde possibly the clear replacement for the impressive Deborah Abiodun who got a red card against the Canadians.

Ajibade told thenff.com: “Personally, I’m fine. Really pumped up for the game. It’s going to be a difficult game because we’re playing the host team in front of their own fans and at their own stadium with so much crowd. A lot of factors.

“However, I think we’ve got this. I trust the team. We have the capacity; we have the talent and we have the energy. We just have to bring our ‘A’ game to the party and we can do it.”

Nigeria’s power forward Desire Oparanozie could play some part in Thursday’s cracker with the co-hosts at the Lang Park, as she appears to have substantially recovered from the injury she copped on the last day of the final training camp in Gold Coast, days to the FIFA World Cup.

She trained on her own, kicking the ball on the side of the pitch as the other 21 players were drilled by Waldrum and his assistants. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who saved a penalty taken by Christine Sinclair and won the MVP award on the day, was allowed off perhaps to relax her nerves.

The China-based star could play some part in Thursday’s game, with the need to get goals and the knock to Asisat Oshoala.

The technical crew also have the versatile Jennifer Echegini on the roster, as well as Uchenna Kanu.

Meanwhile, Australia captain Sam Kerr is still doubtful for the clash as she continues to nurse the injury that ruled her out of the first game against the Irish.