Nigeria could be short-handed when it meets the U.S. on Tuesday in the final game of women's World Cup group play, because FIFA is expected to level a lengthy suspension against Ugo Njoku for throwing an elbow at Australia's Samantha Kerr in a group-play game last Friday.
Njoku, a second-half substitute, was standing with her back to Kerr in the 76th minute of Australia's 2-0 win 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 trainers but finished the game.