Ashleigh Plumptre has voiced her thoughts on the Super Falcons’ emphatic 5-0 win over Zambia in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), revealing that the Nigerian side were made to feel like underdogs ahead of the encounter.
Heading into Friday’s clash, the Falcons faced skepticism from pundits and fans alike. Much of the attention had been on Zambia’s star-studded frontline, featuring the dangerous duo of Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji. There were widespread concerns over whether Nigeria’s defence could contain the high-flying Copper Queens, who had impressed in the group stages.
However, those doubts were decisively crushed as the nine-time African champions stormed to a dominant victory, sending a message to the rest of the continent. Goals from Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chiwendu Ihezuo, Tosin Demehin, and Folashade Ijamilusi sealed what was arguably the Falcons’ best performance of the tournament so far.
Speaking to BBC Sport Nigeria shortly after the game, Plumptre admitted there was an undercurrent of doubt surrounding the Falcons before kickoff.
“I always enjoy any game that I play with this team, to be honest,” said the Leicester City defender. “But I think because there was so much talk going into this one, some people thought we would struggle, and some even counted us out, making us feel like underdogs.”
She continued, “I think we can allow ourselves to celebrate for a day. The girls have been dancing, but I feel really good. I’m happy with the performance. Obviously, as a defender, you like to have clean sheets, and to keep one against a team like Zambia was a big deal for us.”
Clean sheets have been rare in the tournament, especially against attacking teams like Zambia. For Plumptre and her fellow defenders, the shutout was not only a defensive achievement but a strong psychological boost.
“To also have five different goal scorers was great for us,” she added. “I was very happy for Tosin [Demehin] and Osi [Ohale], maybe because defenders don’t always get that credit. They’re both excellent leaders in their own right.”
The win marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s attacking fortunes. Despite progressing from the group stage, the Falcons had struggled to find the back of the net with fluidity, raising questions about their finishing and creativity.
Plumptre, however, provided insight into the earlier challenges, attributing the goal drought to the defensive approach of their previous opponents.
“It was nice to come out with a statement win, and that’ll give us a lot of confidence going into the semi-final,” she said. “People will always doubt, but we have to remember that the teams we played before this game respected us and played in a low-block, making it harder for us to get goals.”
“Zambia are a bit more offensive, which allowed us to get in behind and be a bit more creative. In the end, it all helps — both the doubters and the supporters. Fans are fans.”
Zambia’s head coach, Bruce Mwape Häuptle, admitted after the match that his team had been thoroughly outplayed. “They were better than us,” he said, conceding that the Falcons’ class was too much for his young squad.
With their confidence now restored and their doubters silenced, Nigeria will look ahead to the semi-finals with renewed belief and firepower. The win over Zambia may have started with questions, but it ended with answers — emphatic ones.
