Super Falcons and Washington Spirit midfielder Deborah Abiodun has successfully undergone surgery following an injury that has ruled her out for the remainder of the season.

Sports247 reports that the 22-year-old Nigerian midfielder is now beginning the rehabilitation phase of her recovery as she works towards returning to full fitness.

Abiodun’s injury is also expected to keep her out of Nigeria’s upcoming Olympic qualifiers against Comoros next month, denying the Super Falcons the services of one of their emerging midfield talents for the crucial fixtures.

Despite the setback, Abiodun has maintained a positive outlook and used her experience to send an encouraging message to young footballers who may find themselves facing similar challenges.

Reflecting on the emotional side of undergoing surgery, the midfielder admitted that she was initially scared and nervous but encouraged other players to remain patient and resilient during difficult moments.

“It’s tough sometimes, but you got to keep going. Thank you everyone for your kind words and prayers,” Abiodun said.

She explained that her message was particularly intended to motivate younger players who may be dealing with injuries and the uncertainty that comes with being sidelined.

“I was scared and nervous. It gets better, hang in there,” she added.

The setback represents a frustrating interruption for Abiodun, who has continued to establish herself at both club and international level. Her absence will be felt by the Washington Spirit for the remainder of the campaign and could also affect Nigeria’s plans for the upcoming Olympic qualifying fixtures.

For now, the focus shifts entirely to rehabilitation as Abiodun begins the long road back to competitive football.

The Super Falcons midfielder will be hoping for a smooth recovery and a strong return to the pitch when she is eventually cleared to resume action.

Flamingos head coach Akeem Busari has refused to get carried away by Nigeria’s emphatic start to the WAFU-B U-17 Girls’ Cup, insisting his players still have plenty to improve despite thrashing Niger Republic 5-0.

Nigeria began their campaign in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, in commanding fashion, with five different players finding the net as the defending champions secured three points and a clean sheet.

Captain Harmony Chidi opened the scoring in the 16th minute before Awawu Bashiru doubled the advantage before half-time.

The Flamingos then turned the contest into a rout late on, with Ohunene Sunday, Mary Dunstan and Ayomide Rotimi adding three more goals.

But Busari believes the scoreboard should not disguise the lessons his players still need to learn.

The coach expressed satisfaction with the result but maintained that Niger were not pushovers, adding that his team must continue improving as they prepare for tougher challenges.

His reaction fits with his pre-tournament position that the WAFU-B competition is about more than winning matches.

Busari had described the tournament as an important opportunity to identify the Flamingos’ strengths and deficiencies before the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

He also believes the standard of women’s youth football across Africa is rising rapidly, warning that African teams could become increasingly difficult opponents at major international competitions in the coming years.

For the Flamingos, therefore, five goals and three points represent an encouraging beginning rather than a finished product.

Nigeria’s next test comes against Ghana on Saturday, another World Cup-bound side, in what should provide Busari with a stronger indication of his team’s progress.

The message from the coach after a five-star opening was simple: enjoy the victory, but keep working — because the bigger tests are still ahead.