Super Falcons coach provides injury update on Arsenal youth product Echegini pre-Morocco

Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has provided a crucial update on Arsenal youth product Jennifer Echegini following Nigeria's hard-fought 2-1 victory over South Africa in the semifinals of the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The Dutch-born midfielder spent her formative years honing her craft in London, representing three clubs in the capital, including a notable stint at Arsenal.

She remained with the Gunners until the age of 18, developing her game at one of England's most prestigious academies.

Echegini, who was instrumental in the Falcons’ progression to the final, was forced off in the second half after picking up a knock.

She was replaced by Christy Ucheibe as she struggled to recover fully from the impact during the game.

Her injury has since raised concerns about her availability for the final showdown against hosts Morocco, as the nine-time champions look to clinch their tenth WAFCON title.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Madugu confirmed the injury but revealed that the team is awaiting a full assessment from the medical department before making any decisions on her status for the final.

"She had a slight knock and she would need to be accessed by the medical team and we would get a report from them to know the extent of the knock she had, which would also determine what would happen between now and the final game," Madugu said.

Despite the injury setback, the Super Falcons coach expressed delight at his team’s performance, acknowledging the difficulty of the match against a resilient South African side.

"It was a tough game. Everybody knew it wasn't going to be an easy game. 

"At the end of it all, what we desired was to win and eventually we won. So we are happy that we have won the game and we will be playing in the final.”

With the final fast approaching, Madugu and the Nigerian camp will be hopeful that Echegini can recover in time to feature against Morocco, as the Super Falcons aim to extend their dominance on the continent with a record-extending tenth WAFCON title.

Adeyemi Adewale

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