‘Its a shame to miss out’ – Ashleigh Plumptre shares emotional message after missing Super Falcons Olympic games squad
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre expressed her disappointment on social media after missing out on Randy Waldrum’s 18-woman squad for the Paris Olympics due to injury.
Plumptre, who switched nationalities and became an integral part of the Nigerian team, played a crucial role in the World Cup and the Olympic qualification campaign.
Unfortunately, she suffered a foot injury while playing for her club, Al-Nassr, which required surgery. Despite a successful operation, Plumptre’s recovery did not progress quickly enough for her to make the Olympic roster.
The 25-year-old shared her heartbreak and frustration on Instagram, explaining how she pushed her body to recover in time but ultimately had to accept the situation.
In her statement, Plumptre expressed her regret but also extended her best wishes to her teammates, expressing her pride and excitement for them. She wrote:
“Timings haven’t quite aligned to be in contention for the Olympic roster – a dream I’ve held since I can remember. Since having my surgery, I’ve worked in every area of life to put myself in the best position to recover, but one thing that’s come from this is learning how to listen to my body properly! While on a personal note it’s a shame to miss out, I cannot put into words my excitement and pride in knowing I’ll be watching my @nigeriasuperfalcons girls representing this flag on the Olympic stage. Go well, girls! Naija to the world.”
The Super Falcons’ Olympic journey begins on July 25th against Brazil, followed by group-stage games against Spain and Japan on July 28th and August 1st, respectively.