Born in Leicester, 25-year-old Plumptre enjoyed “great” experiences with England in two European Under-17 Championships alongside future Euro 2022 stars Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo.
But she started to consider her connections to Nigeria after frank lockdown chats with her younger half-sister about racism, their African heritage and a culture neither really knew.
Reaching out to the Super Falcons was her next step, although Plumptre was initially so overawed by her team-mates she got off the bus without daring to speak to Barcelona’s star striker Asisat Oshoala.
Stepping up during a tricky Afcon campaign that saw Nigeria lose their continental crown but qualify for a ninth World Cup, the calm and composed defender earned the right to be among them out in Australia.
“This was something that was never an aim of mine when I first joined Nigeria,” she says. “But being on the qualifying journey with the team to get here has taught me so much and given me amazing life experiences.”
That is not all.
“For me, it’s been a journey of self understanding,” she adds. “Knowing more about my heritage, learning more about my family’s culture and ultimately trying to be some kind of sounding board for kids of mixed heritage.”
So, how has her sister reacted? “She said one night off the cuff, ‘I’m proud of you Ash’ and that for me was enough. I knew then it was the decision I was meant to make.”
