Al-Ittihad defender Ashleigh Plumptre has opened up about the initial reactions she received from her Super Falcons teammates when she first joined Nigeria's women's national team camp.
The 27-year-old defender, who previously represented England at youth levels with over 25 caps for the Young Lionesses, switched her international allegiance to Nigeria in 2021 after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) discovered her eligibility through her paternal grandfather.
In a recent interview with Lagos Talks 91.3, Plumptre recalled her first training session with the Super Falcons and the curiosity her presence generated among her new teammates.
"I do remember my first session [with the Super Falcons] because I went for a header against a player called Desire," Plumptre revealed. "Everybody didn't really know what to expect from me at first. I think for them it was a rarity."
The former Leicester City star explained that her teammates were initially puzzled about her Nigerian heritage. "They were obviously questioning like, 'So, how are you Nigerian?'. Normally when I get that question, I just show them a picture of my dad, and they are like, 'Oh, okay.'"
Plumptre's international switch required FIFA approval as she was provisionally cap-tied to England, her country of birth. Since joining the Super Falcons, she has become an integral part of the team's defensive setup.
The defender currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad after previously featuring for Leicester City in the English Women's Super League.
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