Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum has expressed disappointment with the absence of experienced duo, Ashleigh Plumptre and Rasheedat Ajibade from the squad for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Plumptre was omitted from the squad after failing to recover from the injury she sustained while in action for her club earlier in the year.
Defensive midfielder, Ayinde was initially included in the squad but was replaced after picking up an injury at her Swedish club, Rosengard.
Waldrum admitted losing the two players is a big blow for his team but at the same time is upbeat that other players can step up.
“When you lose Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde, they are two world-class players tough for any team to lose, especially two of them,” Waldrum told NFF TV.
“But then the thing we preach to our players all along is that somebody else has to step up and replace them, and I think we saw that with Chidinma Okeke coming in at left-back for Plumptre when she was out against Cameroon and South Africa.”