Nigeria vs South Africa: Injury Knocks Out Super Falcons Star Ahead of Olympic Qualifier

• Ashleigh Plumptre is ruled out of the Olympic qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa
• The Al-Ittihad Women's defender who had arrived for the matches was confirmed injured
• Impressive star Tosin Demehin was earlier ruled out of the fixture due to an injury as well

Nigeria's quest to qualify for the women's football event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has suffered a setback as key defender Ashleigh Plumptre has been ruled out.

The Saudi Arabia-based defender suffered a knock and will not be in the squad that will take on the African reigning queens Banyana Banyana.

Plumptre, who plays as a center-back for Al-Ittihad Women, has now been replaced by Jumoke Alani who was a key member of the Falconets squad to the 2022 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, where she partnered Deborah Abiodun in the midfield.

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Impressive Tosin Demehin was earlier ruled out of the fixture due to injury as well.

Soccernet reports that Plumptre who was initially called up for the double-header was among the early arrivals at the camp.

She was joined by Rasheedat Ajibade and Linda Jiwauku, but now she has left due to an injury.

The showdown involving Nigeria Women and their South African counterparts is considered a grade-one encounter.

The winner across two legs will pick one of the two tickets from the continent for the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football tournament.

Nigeria host the first leg of the showdown inside the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday, April 5.

The reverse fixture is slated for the Loftus Versfeld arena in Pretoria on April 9.

Despite boasting a star-studded squad, the Super Falcons have always struggled against Banyana Banyana.

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Recall that the South Africans defeated the Nigerian ladies 2-1 in the group stage of the 2023 Women Africa Cup of Nations last year, and then went on to win the title.

South Africa coach names strong squad

Sports Brief earlier reported that South Africa's head coach, Desiree Ellis, has named her 24-player roster for the crucial 2024 Olympic Games qualifier against Nigeria's Super Falcons, which takes place next weekend.

Banyana Banyana are hoping to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since 2016 and will need to get a better result against Nigeria in two legs to be able to advance.

Thembi Kgatlana, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane, Jermaine Seoposenwe, and Hildah Magaia are some of the key players that have been included in coach Ellis’ squad.