Nigeria U-20 Striker Akekoromowei Ruled Out for Two Months with Ankle Injury
Nigeria’s Falconets forward, Janet Akekoromowei, will be unavailable for approximately two months after sustaining an ankle injury during the first leg of the country’s 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup third qualifying round match against Senegal. The report, confirmed by sources close to the team, deals a significant blow to both Nigeria’s qualification campaign and the 18-year-old’s imminent transfer to Europe.
The injury occurred during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over the Lionesses of Senegal last week. The decisive goal was scored by Kindness Ifeanyi in the second half. However, the win came at a cost as Akekoromowei, a key attacking figure for coach Moses Aduku’s side, was forced off after the incident. She has subsequently been ruled out of the return fixture, scheduled for the coming weeks.
Akekoromowei, who plays her club football for Bayelsa Queens in the Nigeria Women’s Football League, has been a standout performer for the Falconets. Her pace, skill, and goal-scoring ability have attracted considerable attention from several top-tier European clubs, with a move abroad widely anticipated at the end of the qualifying cycle. This injury is now expected to delay those transfer negotiations and her eventual deployment on the continent.
The absence of the Bayelsa Queens star is a major setback for Nigeria’s qualifying ambitions. The Falconets are a traditional powerhouse in African women’s football, having previously qualified for every FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Akekoromowei’s creativity and finishing were central to their strategy, and her loss will require tactical adjustments from the coaching staff ahead of the crucial second leg and potential subsequent rounds.
Furthermore, the injury interrupts the momentum of one of the nation’s most promising talents. Her performances at youth international level have marked her as a potential star for the senior Super Falcons in the future. The recovery period will necessitate patience from both the player and the clubs monitoring her progress.
As Nigeria prepares to face Senegal again without their leading forward, the focus shifts to the next available options in the squad. The team must navigate the remainder of the qualifying tie while Akekoromowei begins her rehabilitation. Her long-term development and the securing of a high-profile transfer now depend on a successful and uninterrupted recovery from this ankle problem. The situation underscores the physical demands of concurrent international and potential club transitions for young elite athletes.
