Super Falcon’s Ashleigh Megan Plumptre is having the time of her life at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. After shocking co-host Australia 3-2 in Nigeria’s second Group B match, the former Leicester player was in a frenzy mood when she joined the girls to dance to the iconic rhythm of Fuji music.
Music and dancing have become the trademark of the Nigerian team, much known for their exhilarating dancing steps and high-pitch singing on arrival at the stadium before their matches.
That she has played an inspirational part in Nigeria’s defense line, is a plus for her and a fulfillment of her dream to finally connect with her roots.
She has become an integral part of the Nigerian team since making her debut in 2021 and enjoying every bit of the experience.
She said: “Football has given me the opportunity to go deeper into who I am and what I value.
“For me, I always say that I have to play football for more than just playing it itself. The same way that I chose to join Leicester because of my hometown’s club.
“With Nigeria, I wanted to uncover more of my heritage that I hadn’t delved into before because my dad is half-Nigerian and half-English. My granddad was born in Lagos.
“But I’ve been brought up very British, so, I want to join the Nigerian team where I got to experience food like this, experience more of the culture, I guess.”
GROWING UP
Growing up in the city of Leicester in the United Kingdom as a mixed-race third-generation Nigerian, tapping into her mother’s English heritage wasn’t hard.
But it took the COVID-19 lockdown, conversations with relatives, and a phone call to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for her to really begin to make sense of her African identity. And she loves what she’s found.
After impressing at a Nigerian national team camp in 2021, the Leicester City center-back applied for a Nigerian passport and was soon thrust into the Super Falcons’ starting XI.
Football is the vehicle through which she has been able to return to Nigeria and embrace a part of her identity that, up until now, had only existed in the form of her grandfather’s childhood stories.
“I’ve just opened myself up to everything in the culture,” she says. “I want to be able to encourage young people to do the same thing and identify with being mixed race.
She showcased her versatility during the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualification, playing roles as diverse as center-back, left-back, and even center-midfield.
Plumptre’s graceful ball-playing style and seamless adaptability quickly endeared her to fans, making her a beloved figure within the Super Falcons squad.
Her prowess extended beyond the pitch as she wholeheartedly embraced Nigerian cuisine and culture. Notably, she developed a particular fondness for ‘moi-moi’ – a popular spicy steamed bean delicacy.
Plumptre’s transformative journey from Leicester to Nigeria stands as a living testament to the power of sports in uniting diverse cultures and fostering global unity on the grandest stage.
NIGERIA CAN SURPRISE PEOPLE
Having won 11 WAFCON titles and played at every World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1991, reaching the quarterfinal in 1999, Nigeria are the most successful team in Africa.
But it has been a difficult few years for the team as investment has dwindled, and other African teams like reigning African champions South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia have caught up.
The team’s struggles under head coach Randy Waldrum reached a nadir when the American launched a tirade against the NFF while speaking on the Whistle Podcast, revealing that he was owed seven months’ worth of salary and claiming that the Federation had stopped him from taking his preferred assistant to the World Cup.
He also detailed the allowances allegedly owed to players and accused the NFF of damaging team spirit by withholding invitations from players who had spoken out.
The NFF reacted with a bombastic response of its own, accusing the coach of dropping some key players from the World Cup squad. Just before the tournament started, the team threatened to boycott their first match against Canada if their allowances were not agreed but the Federation rallied to stem it.
In the likes of Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala and Atletico Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade, the Super Falcons boast some considerable talent.
“The depth in our team is very good. We’re a talented team and I want to go as far as possible. I think we can cause upsets and really surprise people.”
GROWTH OF WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
For the first time, FIFA have announced that they will pay each player at the World Cup a basic income of $30,000 as the tournament welcomes 32 teams for the first time – an encouraging step for Plumptre.
“It reflects the growth of women’s football worldwide,” she said. “The respect for the sport has been growing. There are a lot of people before us who have had to put in the work to get us to this position. This is now the foundation for the next tournament to grow on.
“We have a lot of incredible players who deserve to be seen and who deserve whatever recognition comes with that.”
