Super Falcons’ Ashleigh Plumptre Denies Bribery Claims Against NFF

Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has dismissed claims that she accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of demanding bribes, insisting the allegations originated from a fake Facebook account impersonating her.

The controversy erupted after a Facebook page bearing Plumptre’s name claimed she had been left out of Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) because she allegedly refused to comply with demands made by some “corrupt officials.”

The post further alleged that the defender was considering taking a “step back” from international football due to the supposed bribery requests.

The claims spread rapidly across social media, sparking widespread reactions and debate among football fans. Despite growing doubts over its authenticity, the Facebook account, which appears verified and has more than 2,000 followers, continued to attract engagement.

Plumptre moved swiftly to distance herself from the allegations earlier today, June 23, making it clear that the Facebook page was not hers.

Using her verified Instagram account, which boasts more than 130,000 followers, the 28-year-old urged supporters to help tackle the impersonation.

“Please report and block these fake Facebook accounts. They’re running riot for real. I don’t even use Facebook,” Plumptre wrote.

The statement effectively shut down speculation that she had made any accusations against NFF officials.

Born in Leicester, England, Plumptre chose to represent Nigeria through her Nigerian grandfather and made her Super Falcons debut in 2021.

She featured at the 2022 WAFCON tournament, where Nigeria finished fourth after a 1-0 defeat to Zambia in the third-place match.

The former Leicester City defender also played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After missing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through injury, Plumptre returned to international action and was part of the Super Falcons squad that reclaimed the WAFCON title later that year in Morocco.