Deborah Abiodun has successful hip surgery

Super Falcons midfielder, Deborah Abiodun, has had successful surgery on her hip injury. This injury cut her 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season short with Washington Spirit, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

The 22-year-old shared the news on Friday through an Instagram post. She posted pictures taken after her operation and encouraged younger players who might face similar challenges.

“It’s tough sometimes, but you gotta keep going,” she wrote.

“Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and prayers. First slide is there to motivate players, especially younger ones that might be in a similar situation like myself. I was scared and nervous; it gets better, hang in there.”

Washington Spirit confirmed her injury on September 7. They moved Abiodun from the 45-day injury list to the season-ending injury list. She had earlier shared her feelings on Snapchat, saying, “From World Cup heartbreak to this, 2026 must really be that year.”

Her last game was a 1-0 loss to Orlando Pride. Since that match, Washington Spirit has played three league games, winning two and losing 3-0 to Boston Legacy.

They will face Chicago Stars on Sunday and currently sit second in the standings with 43 points. They are two points behind the leaders, Gotham FC.

Abiodun made nine appearances this season, with four of those as starts, and she played a total of 320 minutes. She joined the club in January 2025 and has now made 21 appearances, scoring one goal and providing one assist for the Spirit.

She will miss the Super Falcons’ second-round matches in the 2028 Olympic qualifiers against Comoros on October 9 and 13. If Nigeria advances to the third round, planned for February 23 to March 6, 2027, she could return based on her recovery.

Abiodun played four matches in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria lost 3-2 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals. She also played in the 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup qualifying play-off.