Falconets Striker Janet Akekoromowei Ruled Out for Eight Weeks

Falconets Striker Janet Akekoromowei Ruled Out for Eight Weeks

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria’s U-20 women’s national team, the Falconets, have been dealt a significant setback with forward Janet Akekoromowei expected to spend up to eight weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a leg injury, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Akekoromowei suffered the injury during the first leg of Nigeria’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying tie against Senegal in Abeokuta. An MRI scan conducted after the match confirmed that the highly rated striker will be out of action for several weeks.

The injury forced her withdrawal in the first half of Nigeria’s 1–0 victory, a match eventually decided by a second-half strike from Kindness Ifeanyi. While the Falconets managed to secure a narrow advantage at home and later completed a 3–1 aggregate triumph following a 2–1 away win in Dakar, the absence of their leading attacker presents a tactical challenge.

Head coach Moses Aduku travelled to Senegal without Akekoromowei, placing faith in alternative attacking options for the decisive second leg. Goals from Kindness Chinaza Ifeanyi and Precious Oscar ensured Nigeria’s progression to the final qualifying round despite the setback.

The Falconets are competing for a place at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, and Akekoromowei’s injury comes at a critical juncture in the campaign. Nigeria will now face Malawi in the final round, with a World Cup berth at stake.

Regarded as one of the country’s brightest emerging talents and reportedly attracting interest from several European clubs, Akekoromowei’s absence is a blow both to the team’s attacking depth and to her personal momentum.

Nigeria must now navigate the decisive stage of qualification without one of their most influential forwards, as they push to secure a place on the global stage.