Nigeria’s Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has resumed training with Al-Ittihad after spending several months on the sidelines recovering from a foot injury.
The 28-year-old returned to the training ground after undergoing surgery in March, beginning the process of rebuilding her fitness ahead of the new season.
Her injury ruled her out of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals.
The versatile defender subsequently missed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, dealing a significant blow to Nigeria’s preparations for the continental competition.
Nigeria, under Justine Madugu, were eliminated at the quarter-final stage and consequently missed out on the opportunity to compete in the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Plumptre was unavailable throughout the campaign as she continued her rehabilitation, leaving Nigeria without a player who has played a significant role in their recent international assignments.
Plumptre’s return to training will therefore come as a welcome development for both Al-Ittihad and the Super Falcons as she continues her recovery and works towards regaining full match fitness.
The immediate priority will be to restore her match sharpness and ensure she makes a full recovery from the injury.
Plumptre will now hope to remain injury-free as she works towards returning to competitive action with Al-Ittihad and establishing herself as a key player again.
A successful comeback at club level could also put her back in contention for a return to the Super Falcons, with Nigeria looking to regroup after their disappointing WAFCON campaign.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
