Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has expressed deep frustration over the inadequate lodging conditions the team endured during the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Plumptre, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s journey to clinching their 10th WAFCON title after defeating hosts Morocco in the final, shared her disappointment in an interview with Lagos Talks FM, shedding light on the lack of basic recovery facilities during the competition.
“I know that this team has the talent, but I think with some teams, like England, who’ve just won the Euros, the amount of investment and meticulous planning and structure and everything behind them spurs them on,” said the England-born Al-Ittihad star.
Highlighting the challenges faced, Plumptre added, “It’s the little things like the resources, what fuels their training, and what their recovery is like. In the tournament, for me and some of the other girls, we were tired towards the end because we were put in a hotel in Morocco that didn’t have a gym, and I don’t know whose fault that was.”
“For some of us who wanted to do recovery, we couldn’t do it. Towards the end of the tournament, we were taken to a public gym to be able to use. It’s organised by CAF, but I don’t know whose fault it is. During the tournament, up until we moved to Rabat, the hotel we were at until the semi-finals, we didn’t have a gym or a pool or anything like that. It was one of those little hotels in the city,” she revealed.
The former Leicester City player, who has been nursing an Achilles injury, emphasized the importance of proper recovery facilities during high-stakes tournaments.
“That was pretty tough for someone like me who’s still trying to recover. I had an injury last year, and I still have to keep loading my Achilles, and I think for some of the girls as well, they want to keep their strength up. Even for recovery, to be able to use the gym only towards the end of the tournament is pretty tough,” she lamented.
Despite the odds, the Super Falcons went on to claim continental glory, a testament to their resilience, even in less-than-ideal conditions.