Izuchukwu OkosiAustralia’s duo of Mary Fowler (forward) and Aivi Luik (defender) will miss today’s Group B game against Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as they have failed to pass late fitness test.
The players now join country’s top scorer Sam Kerr on the treatment table before the 11am kick off time.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFowler and Luik suffered the setbacks in training but the team’s medics have not been been able to get them to full fitness.
Despite the absence of the three stars, team captain Steph Catley is buoyed by the determination of the Maltidas to finish the tournament as winners.
“Morale is high. There’s not too much I need to do to be honest, I think everyone’s very focused,” said Catley, who scored the lone goal on a penalty versus Ireland. “Everyone knows we need to keep the morale high.
“(Injuries) are not what you want ever in a tournament and, in particular, this tournament…as Australian players probably the biggest moment of our careers. But it’s football and it happens to every single footballer on the entire planet. It’s how the rest of the squad bounces back and performs in a high-pressure situation in the biggest games.”
Fowler replaced Kerr in the attack for the Ireland match at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, while Luik was an unused substitute. Football Australia said both had fully recovered and started the “return to play” protocols.
A victory or a draw will keep nine-time African champions in the tournament after securing a priceless draw against current women’s football Olympics champions, Canada.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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