Super Falcons hit by injury crisis ahead of Comoros Olympic Qualifiers
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers against Comoros have suffered another major setback, with Super Falcons midfielder Deborah Abiodun ruled out for the remainder of the season and forward Esther Okoronkwo also set to miss the October fixtures.
Abiodun has been moved to Washington Spirit’s season-ending injury list and will undergo surgery this week, the NWSL club confirmed.
The 22-year-old midfielder had initially been placed on the club’s 45-day injury list after suffering a hip injury, but Washington Spirit have now confirmed that her 2026 season is over. She made nine appearances, including four starts, and played 320 minutes for the club this season.
Her latest injury setback is particularly concerning for the Super Falcons, as she will be unavailable when Nigeria begin their quest for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Abiodun is not the only Nigerian international facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo has also been ruled out for the remainder of the Northern Super League season with AFC Toronto, with head coach Marko Milanović confirming that he does not expect the striker to return before the end of the campaign.
Okoronkwo’s absence represents another significant blow to Nigeria’s Olympic qualifying plans, particularly given her importance to the Super Falcons’ attacking options.
The double injury setback leaves the Nigerian technical crew with major decisions to make as they prepare for the two-legged encounter against Comoros.
Nigeria will face Comoros on October 9 and 13, with both matches scheduled for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo. The fixtures are part of the African qualifying race for the 2028 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament in Los Angeles.
The Super Falcons received a bye into the second round as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the qualifying competition, while Comoros secured their place after eliminating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate.
Nigeria must overcome Comoros over two legs to progress to the third round, where either DR Congo or Morocco awaits in February-March 2027.
The ultimate prize is one of only two African tickets to the Olympic women’s football tournament in Los Angeles.
The latest injuries therefore come at an inconvenient time for the Super Falcons, who are entering a new phase following their disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign and failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For Abiodun, attention now turns to surgery and rehabilitation, with the Washington Spirit confirming that the midfielder will undergo the procedure this week.
For Okoronkwo, Nigeria will similarly have to monitor her recovery while looking for alternatives in attack.
The Olympic qualifiers themselves remain scheduled for October, but the Super Falcons’ preparations have been thrown into selection limbo, with two key players now unavailable for the crucial assignment.
The immediate challenge for the technical crew will be to find suitable replacements and build a midfield and attack capable of delivering Nigeria safely through the Comoros hurdle.
For Abiodun and Okoronkwo, however, the priority is now recovery, with the hope that both Super Falcons stars can return to full fitness and resume their international careers strongly.
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