Harambee Starlets forward Violet Nanjala is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injury during Kenya’s CAF Women’s Olympic qualifying match against Seychelles at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The Hibernian Women FC forward is expected to be out of action for between nine and 12 months, according to a medical assessment seen by SportPesa Blog with surgical intervention recommended for the injuries.
Nanjala sustained the injury during Kenya’s emphatic 11-0 victory over Seychelles in the second leg of their 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers. She had scored in the 12th minute before being forced off in the second half, with Elizabeth Mideva coming on in the 56th minute.
Kenya dominated the encounter, with Sylvia Makungu opening the scoring in the sixth minute before Nanjala doubled the advantage six minutes later. Jentrix Shikangwa struck a hat-trick, scoring in the 17th, 20th and 65th minutes, while Vivian Nasaka added another in the 31st minute.
Captain Mwanalima Jereko scored twice in the 48th and 78th minutes, Fasila Adhiambo found the net in the 85th minute, and Marion Serenge completed the rout with goals in the 87th and 90+2 minutes.
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However, the convincing victory came at a cost for the Starlets, with Nanjala’s injury now threatening to keep her out of action for most of the coming year.
A medical assessment obtained by SportPesa Blog indicates that the combination of the two injuries will require an extended rehabilitation period, with surgery considered necessary for the meniscus tear and likely for the ACL injury.
“For a combined meniscus and ACL repair, the rehabilitation period is roughly nine to 12 months. So the patient might be out of action for the same time,” the medical assessment stated.
The assessment further explained that the decision on the appropriate ACL procedure would depend on the extent of the damage, which would be evaluated during arthroscopy.
“For the ACL, the likelihood of surgical intervention is high given that it’s partial. Most of the time, repair of the ACL depends on how much of the ACL diameter is torn, with tears of more than 50% being likely to be repaired, especially in an athlete. This we can only judge intraoperatively during arthroscopy,” the assessment added.
The medical opinion recommended addressing both injuries, given Nanjala’s status as a professional footballer.
“As per my opinion, both the ACL and the meniscus should be repaired given that the patient is an athlete,” the assessment stated.
The injury is a major setback for Harambee Starlets, who are preparing for the next stage of their Olympic qualification campaign.
Kenya are scheduled to face Malawi in the third round, with the two-legged tie set to be played between February 23 and March 6, 2027.
Nanjala’s projected recovery period puts her participation in those matches in serious doubt.
The setback also comes at a difficult time for her club career. Nanjala recently made her debut for Hibernian Women FC in Malta and announced herself in impressive fashion by scoring a hat-trick.
Having made an immediate impact following her arrival at the club, the forward will now face a lengthy rehabilitation period as she works towards returning to competitive football. Her recovery will be closely watched by both her club and the national team, who will hope to have her back once she has completed her rehabilitation and received medical clearance.