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Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has revealed that she doesn’t have any regrets playing for Nigeria at the World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports
The 25-year-old was born in Leicester and has spent most of her life in the United Kingdom. She has represented England in the age group football, from under-15s to under23s.
However, a decision with its roots beyond football encouraged her to stake her international future to Nigeria with whom she qualified through her paternal grandfather.
“Incredibly grateful for the opportunity to go deeper into my own identity, learn more about what it means to have “Naija spirit” and to showcase to the world what a unified, determined and empowered group of women are capable of achieving,” she said.
She got the chance to make her World Cup debut when she was named in the West African country’s 23-man list for the 2023 edition of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Plumptre started all four matches Nigeria played at the tournament, keeping clean sheets in all but one, as the Super Falcons scaled through a group which contained hosts Australia and Olympics champions Canada to set up a last-16 tie with England in Brisbane.
Nigeria had a better chance to win the game and created more opportunities than the European champions before they eventually lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
Having played against her country of birth in the last-16 tie, the 25-year-old does not have any regrets she lined up on the side of the nine-time African champions.
“I’ve had people ask me ‘do you have any regrets, you could still have played for England’ and I understand why people say that, but I’m exactly where I’m meant to be on my journey,” she told BBC.com.
“I made the decisions I made for a reason and the fact I was lining up against these players I used to play with, now with a different badge – another part of who I am – on my chest was really hard to put into words but was really special.”
Plumptre also revealed that the team has set a standard for itself for future endeavors after its stellar performance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and she is looking to fulfill another ambition and represent the Super Falcons at the Olympics in Paris next year. This is now the benchmark for us,” she added.
The Nigeria International is set to move to another club for her next challenge after spending the last three-and-a-half years with Leicester City.
