TheCable

Nigerian defender, Ugo Njoku, has received a three-match-ban for her elbow on Australian forward Sam Kerr.

A FIFA disciplinary committee found Njoku to have deliberately struck Kerr with her elbow late in the Super Falcons 2-0 loss on Friday.

Njoku was also fined the equivalent of $3,200.

A second-half substitute, Njoku was standing with her back to Kerr in the 76th minute when she drove her right elbow into Kerr’s face, knocking her to the turf.

Kerr, who was originally thought to have a broken jaw, was attended to by the Aussies bench but finished the game.

She is expected to play Tuesday against Sweden.

“It was quite vicious,” Kerr said.

But Nigeria’s coach Edwin Okon said the elbowing was accidental.

“It was not deliberate,” Okon said.

“It’s a game of contact. I don’t think any player would do that on their own with their elbow.”

FIFA disagrees and confirmed the ban begins with the Falcons’ next game against USA and includes two additional games to be served immediately after.

The Super Falcons will enter the final day bottom of the Group D but have a chance of qualifying for the next round with a win over USA – a team they have never beaten.