WAFCON 2022: Injured Oshoala ruled out of tournament
Oshoala has endured a series of injury setbacks this season with the Super Falcons and Barcelona
The Nigeria Football Federation have announced that Super Falcons striker Asisat Osohala would play no further part in the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Oshoala who sustained an injury during Monday’s group opener agianst South Africa’s Bayana Bayana is expected to leave Morocco for Spain to begin treatment.
It was initially thought the Barcelona forward would be able to shake off the knock to continue the tournament but the official updates from the NFF’s official Twitter handle on Wednesday suggest otherwise.
The NFF wrote: Sad news from @NGSuper_Falconscamp: Top striker @AsisatOshoala is out of the ongoing #WAFCON2022. She sustained a Grade 2 Medial Collateral Ligament strain in the game against South Africa. She is due back in Spain on Thursday. Get well quick Asisat!
‼️Sad news from @NGSuper_Falcons camp: Top striker @AsisatOshoala is out of the ongoing #WAFCON2022. She sustained a Grade 2 Medial Collateral Ligament strain in the game against South Africa. She is due back in Spain on Thursday. Get well quick Asisat!
— The NFF ???????? (@thenff) July 6, 2022
The latest injury blow adds to the episodes of woes for Oshoala who has lately been plagued with one knock or the other in quick sucessions.
Earlier this year in February, Oshoala suffered a thigh injury which ruled her out of the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ivory Coast.
This was after she returned from a knee injury in December after spending about two months on the sidelines.
With Oshoala now out of the team, the Super Falcons will need to roll up their sleeves as they fight first for a World Cup ticket and then a record-extending 10th title.
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons Coach Randy Waldrum is optimistic his Ladies will win their next two matches to qualify for the knockout stage after Monday’s shaky start against Bayana Bayana.
Waldrum said the defeat suffered against South Africa has not dampened the spirit in the camp, adding that the girls have put the match behind them and are ready to push harder.
“In spite of the loss, we are still positive in camp. It is obviously the first game of the tournament so we have to go back and regroup.
“We have to increase our urgency in the fighting spirit because we are encouraged by it.
“We have to play the way we played in the last 10-15 minutes so that we get going,” Waldrum said.
The Falcons will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they file out against Botswana on Thursday at 8 pm.
Debutants Bostawana are surprisingly leading the pack in Group C after an impressive 4-2 over Burundi in their first match.
