“A Dream Come True”-Ashleigh Plumptre Celebrates First Goal for Nigeria
1 min read
By Sedara Philip
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has expressed her joy and pride after netting her first-ever goal for the Nigerian national team in the 1–1 draw against Benin Republic on Tuesday in Abeokuta.
Plumptre, who plays for Al-Ittihad Ladies in Saudi Arabia, opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 12th minute, heading home from an Esther Okoronkwo corner during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying second leg fixture.
The goal marked a special milestone for the England-born defender, who switched allegiance to represent Nigeria in 2022 and has since become a mainstay in the Super Falcons’ backline.
Sharing her excitement on social media after the match, Plumptre wrote:
“I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a kid — scoring for my country.
To finally see it happen today in Abeokuta, in front of our amazing fans, is a feeling I’ll never forget.
”It ended 1–1 against Benin Republic, but we did enough to qualify on aggregate.
Proud, thankful, and motivated to keep giving everything for the badge.
Despite the draw, the result was enough to send Nigeria through to the 2026 WAFCON, which will be hosted by Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
Plumptre’s performance and emotional message have since earned widespread praise from fans and teammates alike, further cementing her growing influence within the Super Falcons setup.
