Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has spoken honestly about the surface at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, where Nigeria face Benin Republic in the WAFCON 2026 qualifier on Tuesday, Footynaija.com reports.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Ajibade praised the renovated facility but made one observation. Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, posted on X that Ajibade called the pitch “a good facility” yet admitted that playing on AstroTurf was far from ideal for professionals.
According to Osasu’s post, she “gave a measured, diplomatic answer” but did not hide the fact that players at her level prefer natural grass.
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It is not the first time players have raised concerns about synthetic pitches. Many pros argue that AstroTurf increases the strain on knees and ankles, especially in hot conditions.
The MKO Abiola Sports Arena, formerly known as the MKO Abiola Stadium, underwent a major upgrade earlier this year. Ogun State introduced a hybrid football turf after years of poor maintenance had left the natural grass in bad shape.
The new pitch was installed ahead of the National Sports Festival, with government officials promising it would not fall into neglect again.
Still, for players like Ajibade, nothing matches real grass. She plays in Ligue 1 Féminine, where stadiums have perfectly maintained natural pitches. Switching from that to a synthetic surface can be a shock to the joints.
The Super Falcons, ten-time WAFCON champions, are 2–0 up from the first leg against Benin Republic and are favourites to seal qualification for the next round. Their last outing, the WAFCON 2025 final in Morocco, ended in triumph after they came from two goals down to beat the hosts 3–2, with Ajibade leading by example.
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