By Olaitan Ibrahim
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has been shortlisted for the prestigious Spanish Liga F Player of the Month (POTM) award for September, according to a report.
The Atlético Madrid forward will be up against six other nominees, including Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor, Real Madrid’s Caroline Weir, Levante Badalona’s María Llompart, and Athletic Club Femenino’s Nerea Nevado.
The official statement from the organisers read:
“For the first time in the history of @easportsfces and Liga F, we present to you our nominees for #POTM. Their great games during the month of September have earned them a place on this list.”
Ajibade’s nomination comes after a stellar start to the season.
In just two games, the 24-year-old contributed two goals and two assists, proving to be a key player for her club.
She provided an assist in Atlético Madrid’s 2-0 win over Granada on matchday one but missed their 2-1 victory against Deportivo de La Coruña.
However, Ajibade returned with a bang, delivering a standout performance in Atlético’s 4-0 away win over Valencia, where she scored twice and assisted another goal.
Against Valencia, Ajibade set up Gabriela Garcia’s opener in the 15th minute and later netted two goals herself, the first coming from a brilliant control and finish before halftime. Her second was a result of a defensive error in stoppage time.
Ajibade’s fantastic start to the season follows a strong campaign last year, where she registered 10 goals and four assists in 30 matches, earning the title of Atlético Madrid’s Player of the Year.