Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has finally returned to competitive football after a long layoff due to injury, playing in Al-Ittihad’s narrow 1-0 defeat of Al-Ula in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, MySportDab Reports.
The 26-year-old came off the bench in the second half, in what was her first outing since undergoing surgery on her right foot over six months ago.
Oluwaseun Plumptre had expressed her delight at returning to the pitch of play for both Al-Ittihad and the Nigerian national team. In a message to fans via social media, she said, “Hey Etihad fans! I’m so happy to be back. Even happier with the win and the clean sheet.” She said in a post-match video: “Thanks for all your support.”
Her ordeal with injury started earlier this year, with Al-Ittihad confirming that she had undergone surgery to correct an nagging foot injury that had troubled her for months.
The club put in place an intensive rehabilitation programme to ensure that she regained full health, and indeed Plumptre expressed gratitude to the medical team for support during her ordeal.
“I would like to thank all the doctors @ittihadladiesclub and Dr Pieter D’Hooge @aspetar for guiding me through my first surgery,” she tweeted. “It’s been a long time coming trying to find answers, but I’m so grateful to be at this stage.
Plumptre also used the opportunity to thank her Super Falcons teammates and Nigerian supporters, whose patience during her time off the pitch she acknowledged. “To my @nigeriasuperfalcons teammates and Nigerian fans, thank you for your understanding when I couldn’t be with you. I’ve fought as hard as I could with this pain. I can’t wait to return healthy and play alongside you all again.”
Due to her injury, Plumptre missed Nigeria’s involvement in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Her successful return to club football with Al-Ittihad, though, is a signal that she is well on course toward regaining full match fitness and probably rejoining the Super Falcons in due course.
She joined Al-Ittihad in 2023 and immediately started to be one of the important players. This also brings hope that she will bring out a very fascinating national team career after an injury comeback, which bolsters her club and possibly her national team prospects.
