Nigerian defender Ugo Njoku has been handed a three-match ban by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for an elbowing incident in the Super Falcons’ Group D match against Australia in Winnipeg on Friday.

Njoku was involved with Australia’s Sam Kerr in the match, which the Matildas won 2-0 thanks to a brace by Kyah Simon.

Although Australia did not complain about the incident, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee took the decision after sitting down on its own to review the incident.

It means the 20 -year old strong defender, a member of Nigeria’s silver –winning squad at last year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup also staged in Canada, will miss Tuesday’s potentially –explosive tie with the USA in Vancouver, and two other matches.

The referee did not punish Njoku, who was also in the Nigeria U-20 squad that reached the FIFA U-20 World Cup semi finals in Japan in 2012, for the incident.

It would be recalled that France’s Camille Abily was involved in a similar incident with England defender Laura Bassett in their Group F clash in Moncton on Tuesday, June 9, which France won 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Eugenie Le Sommer.

The referee also did not punish the French player, the English FA did not protest and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee did not review the incident.

Author: NFF Admin