Nigeria’s Ashleigh Plumptre relishes facing country of birth England in Women’s World Cup Round of 16

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria senior women’s national team defender, Ashleigh Plumptre is bracing up to a fierce encounter with England in the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Monday.

Plumptre represented England at the U-15 and U-23 levels before switching her allegiance to play for the Super Falcons and former Leicester City defender relishing facing up against familiar faces, especially friends in the Lionesses fold from the age grade level and in the English Women’s Super League (WSL).

“I think it’s going to be a good game,” Plumptre told the Super Falcons Show.

“I know a lot of the players in the team [England] and at club level as well. They have a lot to prove being European champions but I think we have some good results in this tournament and caused some upsets. We have a team capable of beating England.

“It’s like two different stages of my life. It’s one game and it will be really special because I played for them when I was a young girl.”

Predominantly switching between forward and attacking midfielder at youth level, she scored twice during a 9-0 win over Moldova in the 2015 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifying round.

In 2016, 17-year-old Plumptre was the youngest player named to the under-23 team for the 2016 La Manga Tournament. She made a combined 30 appearances at youth level, scoring 10 goals for England before switching her allegiance to Nigeria last year.

“Obviously I have complete believe in this team and I have learned a lot as an individual and a player with the challenge of being better with the team,” she added.

“I would never change anything. Every step I have taken in my football career happened because it was meant to and I always say this ‘is more than a football journey for me’. This is a life journey. I am so proud of where I am right now.”