Ashleigh Plumptre, a defender for Leicester City, has disclosed her reasons for switching her international allegiance from England to Nigeria. Despite representing England at youth levels, the 24-year-old made the decision to explore her heritage. In a recent interview with Kelly Somers of Optus Sports, Plumptre revealed that she wanted to uncover more about her Nigerian roots.
Plumptre made her debut for the Super Falcons of Nigeria in February 2022, just a few months after switching her international allegiance. She expressed her excitement at the opportunity to play for Nigeria and to learn more about the country and its culture. Plumptre's decision was met with enthusiasm from Nigerian fans, who welcomed her with open arms.
The defender's decision to switch her allegiance was not an easy one. Plumptre had previously represented England at various youth levels, and had even been called up to the senior squad. However, she ultimately decided that her desire to learn more about her heritage was more important than her allegiance to England.
Plumptre's decision to switch her international allegiance is not uncommon in the world of football. Many players have chosen to represent countries other than their birthplace or the country they grew up in. For Plumptre, the decision was a personal one, driven by her desire to explore her heritage and learn more about her Nigerian roots.
According to her:
“For me, I always say that I have to play football for more than just playing it itself. The same way that I chose to join Leicester because of my hometown’s club."
“With Nigeria, I wanted to uncover more of my heritage that I hadn’t delved into before because my dad is half-Nigerian and half-English. My grandad was born in Lagos. But I been brought up very British, so, I want to join the Nigerian team where I got to experience food like this, experience more of the culture, I guess.”
SOURCE: DAILY POST NEWSPAPER
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