NFF Debunks False Ashley Plumptre WAFCON Exclusion Report

NFF Debunks False Ashley Plumptre WAFCON Exclusion Report

By Niyi Busari 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media claiming that Super Falcons defender Ashley Plumptre expressed frustration over her alleged omission from Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the federation urged media organisations, journalists and members of the public to verify information before sharing or publishing it, warning that the spread of fake news continues to undermine credibility and public trust.

The latest warning follows the circulation of a Facebook post attributed to Plumptre, in which the defender was purportedly lamenting her exclusion from the Super Falcons squad for the upcoming WAFCON tournament scheduled to hold in Morocco from July 25 to August 16.

However, NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, described the report as entirely fabricated and linked it to a fake social media account impersonating the player.

“This is totally false,” David said. “Ashley Plumptre made it clear last year that she is not on Facebook. She revealed that individuals have been impersonating her on the platform and that efforts to have the page removed have so far been unsuccessful. Nothing has changed regarding her absence from Facebook, and nobody should believe information coming from those cloned accounts.”

David also noted that reports of Plumptre's exclusion were baseless because the Super Falcons coaching crew has not yet submitted a final squad list for the continental championship.

“The coach has not submitted any list of players for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, so the claims are completely unfounded,” she added.

The NFF further recalled previous instances of misinformation involving Super Falcons players, including false reports concerning striker Esther Okoronkwo and another claiming that veteran forward Asisat Oshoala had retired from international football.

According to the federation, such incidents highlight the growing challenge posed by misinformation and underscore the need for greater diligence in news verification.

“We appeal to well-meaning individuals, media owners and media professionals to verify information before publishing or sharing it. The incidence of fake news has become overwhelming, and safeguarding credibility requires responsible journalism and fact-checking,” David said.

Plumptre also addressed the issue directly on Tuesday, condemning the fake accounts operating in her name.

“Awful false accounts. I've posted on my Instagram and X for people to report them. They are using my identity and scamming people,” the defender said.

She added that efforts are ongoing to have the fraudulent accounts removed, revealing that the impersonation has persisted for more than a year.

The NFF reiterated its commitment to combating misinformation and urged football fans to rely on verified sources for updates concerning the national teams and players.