Rasheedat Ajibade
It took Rasheedat Ajibade’s lone strike for the Super Falcons to see off a gritty Cameroon side to book a semi-final ticket in the ongoing Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON). She was voted Woman of the Match.
Ajibade says in a post-match interview that there is still one more goal to achieve in spite of her team’s qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ajibade scored the match’s only goal in the 57th minute to increase her goals tally to three in the competition.
The woman-of-the-match told newsmen that booking a World Cup ticket was one of the team’s targets, adding that they would now focus on winning the tournament.
“First I want to give glory to God Almighty for the victory which has taken us into the semi-finals and also given us a World Cup ticket.
“It’s our goal to win the tournament and also qualify for the World Cup.
“It’s one down and so we are going for the next one,” she said.
The Atletico Madrid Primera División Femenina forward stated that the Falcons were committed to achieving their target, adding that they have all it takes to win the tournament.
“If we want to win the tournament, we have to compete with every team.
“So, we are ready. We are going for it and we know what it takes.
“It’s a very tough tournament, but we will make sure we do our best to scale through the next hurdle,” she said.
The Super Falcons have set up a mouth-watering semi-final duel against hosts Morocco.
At just 22, Ajibade who started her football career in Nigeria, then briefly in Norway, is a major part of Atletico Madrid Primera División Femenina first team. Quick on the ball with good sense of positioning, she is already gunning for the Golden Boot with three super goals in four matches.
Below are some of the laurels and awards she has garnered at individual and team levels.
Individual Honours
League Bloggers Award – 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League Player of the Season
Nigeria Pitch Awards – 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League Player of the season
2017 Nigeria Women Premier League – Top scorer (jointly held with Reuben Charity)
Nigeria Football Federation – 2018 Young Player Of The Year
2018 WAFU Women’s Cup – second highest goal scorer (jointly held with Ines Nrehy and Janet Egyir).
TEAM HONOURS
2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – Quarter finals
2018 WAFU Women’s Cup – third place
2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – Winner
2021 Supercopa de Espana – Winner
