Hat-trick on debut, Nigerian defender Ashleigh Plumptre shines in Saudi Arabia

Ashleigh Plumptre, an England-born Nigerian defender, pulled off a rarest of rare feats on her debut.  Just a month after signing for Saudi club Al-Ittihad in 2023, she made an unforgettable first impression by scoring all three goals in a 3-0 win over Eastern Flames. She later repeated the magic in a Jeddah derby against Al-Ahli.

In an interview with NDTV, she said, "So, the World Cup experience, in general, was a huge experience for me. I never thought I would be playing in a World Cup, and especially to represent Nigeria, so that was a real privilege." She added that being able to play against England felt a lot more special because she knew a lot of the girls in the team. "I played with them or against them, or I grew up playing against them. Honestly, that was probably one of my favourite games that I ever played in my whole life. I know we lost on penalties, but I didn't feel so disappointed. I just felt really grateful that I got the opportunity, and we were able to push England as far as we did," she stated. 

Plumptre is now embracing a new chapter in Saudi Arabia, playing for Al-Ittihad. Adjusting to a new league and culture had its challenges, but she quickly made her mark. Despite being a defender, she shocked even herself by scoring a hat-trick in her very first match.

"When I came here, I definitely didn't expect to be scoring (a hat-trick on my debut). I think I scored three times when I was with my last club for over three years. So, like, scoring three in a game was a bit of a surprise for me," she admitted.

"I've obviously been here for a year and a half now; I am really enjoying it. There's obviously some real purpose of being out here. I really enjoy the culture and the lifestyle, and I think football has always been a platform to experience more and learn about life and people. (This opportunity) has enabled me to broaden my horizon a little bit," she added.

"We are here for the girls of the (Saudi) national team, and partly because there are quite a few of the girls from my team, Al-Ittihad, who are playing here. So, being able to see their growth in a short period of time is really fulfilling," she shared.

"They obviously get a different opportunity playing with the national team and learning different things. They come back to us (the overseas players), and they can share what they have learned and worked on. But, yeah, for me, I didn't know any of these girls before I came here, and I've got a glimpse of their lives and what football is like for them. For me, while I'm here, I'm continuing to try to improve myself and the people around me and trying to grow the game for the better here and in the Middle East in general," she emphasized.

She started playing football at the age of four, joined an academy at eight, and later moved to the US after turning pro at 16. After gaining experience overseas, she returned to play for her hometown club, Leicester City. 

One of her biggest moments came when she represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. 

Facing England, the country of her birth, was a special moment. Though Nigeria lost on penalties, she cherished the experience of competing at the highest level against players she grew up with.