Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has attributed the national team's recent struggles to inadequate camping facilities, calling for urgent investment to improve conditions ahead of the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON).
Ajibade, who also captains Atlético Madrid Femenino, highlighted the substandard preparation environment as a major setback to the team's performance, referencing their third-place finish in the last AWCON as evidence that more needs to be done.
Speaking about her experience at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the forward recalled how the Spanish women's team enjoyed superior facilities. "We were in the same hotel with Spain after the Brazil game. I visited their floor and saw a fully set-up physiotherapy room with about four physios attending to players simultaneously," she said.
In contrast, Ajibade revealed that the Super Falcons had only one physiotherapist available during the entire tournament. “I played almost every minute of the Olympic matches but couldn’t get physio treatment because we had just one person for the whole team. It’s bad, but we keep playing because we love the game and our country.”
She stressed the need for proper support, adding that the players' commitment is unwavering despite the challenges. “Football is one of the few things that bring joy to Nigerians. Yet, there’s little investment, and people expect us to win. It doesn’t work that way,” she said.
Ajibade called on authorities to prioritize the welfare of the team, insisting that better preparation conditions would translate into better results on the pitch.
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