Ashleigh Plumptre thrilled to make Super Falcons return after injury layoff

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

After returning to Nigeria’s senior women’s national team squad after recovering from many months of injury layoff, Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashleigh Plumptre is glad to be in the fold.

The Super Falcons star played her first game for the team since the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers against France in November.

The nine-time African champions succumbed to a 2-1 loss against host France in Angers.

The former Leicester City defender showed her happiness in returning to the team after the match.

“A long road back, but was happy to meet with this bunch again,” Plumptre posted on her social media pages.

“Not the result we wanted but unto the next one.”

Goals from Eugenie Le Sommer and Amel Majri lifted Le Bleues to a 2-1 win over the Super Falcons, which scored their first-ever goal over the European side.

French-based forward Ifeoma Onumonu pulled a goal back for Justine Madugu’s side in the additional minutes of the first half.

With the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) taking place in the middle of 2025, we expect more friendly games by the Super Falcons in preparation for the tournament.