We had no gym in our hotel, Plumptre decries treatment of Super Falcons in Morocco

 Super Falcons defender, Ashleigh Plumptre, has expressed concern over the lack of basic facilities and support structures provided for the Nigerian women’s national team during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in Morocco.

Speaking during an interview with Lagos Talks 91.3 FM posted on Friday via X, Plumptre lamented the absence of essential recovery amenities, such as a gym and pool, at the team’s accommodation throughout their stay in Casablanca, where the team played all their group stage matches, as well as the quarterfinal and semi-final fixtures.

“I think with some teams like England—obviously they’ve just won the Euros—the amount of investment and meticulous planning and structure and everything behind them is evident. It’s just like little things like the resources, what fields they’re training on, what their recovery is like,” she said.

Plumptre said the lack of facilities left the players physically drained towards the end of the tournament.For me and for 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. Towards the end of the tournament, we were taken to a public gym to be able to use,” she revealed.

When asked whether the Nigerian Football Federation or the Moroccan authorities were responsible for the hotel arrangements, Plumptre said the players were uncertain.

“We actually don’t know… It’s CAF, organised by CAF, but I don’t know if it’s the Moroccan FA. Honestly, I’m not quite sure,” she said.Plumptre explained that prior to the tournament, the team had been lodged in a hotel with a small gym, but during the main competition, they were relocated to a smaller hotel without the needed facilities.We didn’t have a gym or a pool or anything like that in our hotel. It was like one of those little hotels in the city,” she said.

She noted that the arrangement was especially difficult for players like her, who were managing injuries and needed to maintain fitness.

“I had an injury last year and I’m still trying to keep loading my Achilles. Some of the girls also like to keep their strength up,” she added.

The defender praised the team’s captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, for attempting to advocate for better conditions on behalf of the players.

“As soon as we got to the hotel, she told all of us, ‘don’t unpack.’ She said we’re not going to stay here. She told the people in charge that we have to be able to move. Like, we’re here in a major tournament and we don’t have a gym,” Plumptre recalled.

Although the team ultimately stayed in the hotel, the management allowed each player to have a room to herself due to the cramped conditions.Initially, we were in two to a room, but the rooms were really small. If myself and my roommate were to open our suitcases, we wouldn’t have been able to move. In the end, they did allow us to have a room each, which definitely helped,” Plumptre said.

The Super Falcons finished victorious at the 2024 WAFCON, defeating host Morocco 3-2 in the final.