Ashleigh Plumptre: How Nigerian Star Snubbed England Amid Exploration of Ancestry

• Ashleigh Plumptre produced an incredible performance for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• The defender represented England's youth teams before switching allegiance to play for the Super Falcons
• Plumptre's darker-complexioned sister had faced racism and she began to explore their Nigerian ancestry

Nigerian international, Ashleigh Plumptre, featured for England from the under-15 level up to U23 before she decided to switch allegiance to the West African nation.

The impressive defender was a beacon at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, posing five-star performances for the Super Falcons.

Plumptre faced her friends in the Round of 16, including the likes of Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Georgia Stanway as Nigeria and England clashed for a quarter-final place.

The Leicester-born player once revealed she started researching her roots as football pushed her 'beyond her boundaries', per the BBC.

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Plumptre was eligible to play for the Super Falcons through her African-born grandfather, Harry, and she began learning her heritage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defender also revealed her darker-complexioned younger sister had asked her about facing racism.

Plumptre eventually applied to swap national teams through FIFA and despite England's Lionesses handing her a call-up, she chose to join the Super Falcons.

Her father, Tim, told the Mirror:

"She thanked [England] but said her mind was made up. The Nigeria coach already knew of Ashleigh and was so pleased. He said to me 'we'd love to have her, she could do a big job for us'."

Plumptre's father explained his daughter was patriotic about England but also proud about being Nigerian.

"She’s been brought up around both cultures and has done it for her own self-discovery, for her sister and to inspire children with parents from other cultures."

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England survive World Cup scare

Sports Brief also reported on England surviving a World Cup scare as they edged out Nigeria in their Round of 16 clash on August 7.

The knockout stage encounter had ended goalless after 90 minutes and both sides were still locked up after a half-hour of extra time.

Nigeria's Desire Oparanozie and Michelle Alozie missed their spot kicks as the Africans were beaten 4-2 via a post-match shootout.