Esther Okoronkwo Set to Miss Rest of Year After Injury Blow

Nigeria forward Esther Okoronkwo is expected to miss the remainder of the year after suffering an injury, according to AFC Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic.

The injury is also set to rule the Super Falcons forward out of Nigeria’s upcoming CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier against Comoros next month as the team begin their bid to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of AFC Toronto’s Northern Super League meeting with Calgary Wild on Sunday, Milanovic confirmed that Okoronkwo would not be available and was unlikely to return before the end of the season.

“She won’t be available for the game,” Milanovic said. “And we don’t expect her to come back this season.”

The coach admitted that it is difficult to determine exactly when the injury occurred, suggesting it may have developed over time.

“It’s hard to know exactly where it happened. It could have been just wear and tear over a longer period,” he said. "She's had multiple MRIs, obviously, since the injury. Some of the things presented themselves a little differently than what they were, despite MRI usually being able to show you everything."