Super Falcons and Al-Ittihad defender Ashleigh Plumptre has revealed some of the harrowing things the Nigerian team endured during the WAFCON 2024 tournament, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 27-year-old was one of the stand-out performers for Justin Madugu’s side in Morocco, featuring in five of the six games as Nigeria brought Mission X to fruition.
While the financial incentives from the Nigerian President and CAF have proven to be very rewarding, Plumptre admitted that the conditions they were subjected to during the competition were no fun.
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The former Leicester City defender mentioned that the Nigerian team were put in a small hotel with no facilities for recovery after games and training.
“I know that this team has the talent, but I think with some teams, like England, who’ve just won the Euros, the amount of investment and meticulous planning and structure and everything behind them spurs them on,” the England-born Nigerian told Lagos Talks FM.
“It’s the little things like the resources, what fuels their training, and what their recovery is like.
“In the tournament, for me and some of the other girls, we were tired towards the end because we were put in a hotel in Morocco that didn’t have a gym, and I don’t know whose fault that was.”
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“For some of us who wanted to do recovery, we couldn’t do it. Towards the end of the tournament, we were taken to a public gym to be able to use.
“It’s organised by CAF, but I don’t know whose fault it is. During the tournament, up until we moved to Rabat, the hotel we were at until the semi-finals, we didn’t have a gym or a pool or anything like that. It was one of those little hotels in the city.
“That was pretty tough for someone like me who’s still trying to recover. I had an injury last year, and I still have to keep loading my Achilles, and I think for some of the girls as well, they want to keep their strength up.
“Even for recovery, to be able to use the gym only towards the end of the tournament is pretty tough,” Plumptre continued.
The versatile defender mentioned they complained about the situation and lauded the team’s captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, for how she managed the situation.
“We did complain, and this is why I can speak so highly of our captain, Rash. I think she’s new to the role, but she’s so professional.”
“As soon as we got to the hotel, she told us not to unpack, but we ended up staying there. Initially, we were assigned to be two in a room, but it was so small.
“If my roommate and I were to open our suitcases, we wouldn’t be able to move. In the end, we were able to have a room to ourselves, and that helped, but she made her thoughts known for sure,” Plumptre concluded.
What @ashplumptre says, about the lack of recovery facilities for the @NGSuper_Falcons, at their hotel, during the #WAFCON, was not #Nigeria’s problem alone. @descaptain made complaints about the hotel @Banyana_Banyana were put in. It’s unacceptable. @CAF_Online, do better! pic.twitter.com/5SE4QAxrDQ
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) August 1, 2025
Plumptre wasn’t included in the WAFCON 2024 team of the tournament, which came as a surprise to many, as she had a great performance competition.