Ashleigh Plumptre and Coach Randy Waldrum are rejoining the Super Falcons for next month’s Women’s Olympic Qualifying 3rd Round tie against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, globalsportsng.com understands.
Globalsportsng reports that Plumptre, who hit the ground running with Saudi side Al Ittihad, scoring seven goals in as many appearances for the club, last played with the team on August 7, 2023, in a round of 16 penalty defeat to England at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia.
The 25-year-old, who featured in all four matches at the Mundial, needed some time out to take care of personnel matters to the understanding of the coaches and NFF.
Information reaching globalsportsng.com reveals that the former Leicester City player will stage her return against Cameroon in the two-legged tie, with the first leg taking place in Cameroon on February 19, while the reverse tie will take place in Lagos on February 28.
Plumptre represented England at the under-15, under-17, under-19, and under-23 levels before switching allegiance to Nigeria in June 2021. She received her first call-up for an eight-day training camp held in Austria the following month.
She qualifies to play for Nigeria through her paternal grandfather, a Yoruba from Lagos, and made her official debut on February 18, 2022, starting in a 2–0 win over Ivory Coast during the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification.
Fondly called “oyinbo” by Super Falcons team-mates, Plumptre was included in the 23-player Nigeria squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She started all four games, helping Nigeria keep three clean sheets as the team reached the round of 16 before being eliminated by England on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
She has since made 15 appearances for Nigeria.
Coach Waldrum has been handed a new contract with india loses terms by the NFF after his initial deal signed with the football club on October 5, 2020, expired with the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Despite the team putting up heartwarming displays at the World Cup, the NFF was hesitant to renew his contract, but the Ibrahim Gusau-led board eventually harkened to voices of reasoning.
To this end, the 67-year-old American will start to take charge of the dugout in the potentially explosive tie against rivals Cameroon.
Revealed: Waldrum, Plumptre To Rejoin Super Falcons
