Super Falcons star Plumptre warns of Facebook impersonation scams ahead of WAFCON 2026
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has warned fans about fraudulent Facebook accounts impersonating her to spread false claims that she was omitted from Nigeria's squad for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco (July 25-August 16). The defender, who plays club football in Saudi Arabia, dismissed the reports on Tuesday, describing the accounts as fraudulent and warning supporters not to engage with them. Plumptre said she's been dealing with this impersonation issue for over a year and is contacting someone in Saudi Arabia to help take down the fake accounts.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the reports are false, noting that no official squad list has been submitted by the coaching crew. NFF Director of Competitions Ruth David emphasized that Plumptre has repeatedly stated she doesn't operate a Facebook account. David also revealed similar scams have targeted other players like Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala, highlighting a growing problem of athlete impersonation on social media for fraudulent purposes.
As WAFCON preparations intensify and Nigeria aims to retain its continental title (having won 10 previous titles), the NFF urges the public to verify information through official channels before sharing. Fans should rely only on Plumptre's verified Instagram and X accounts for authentic updates, report suspicious accounts, and avoid engaging with unverified claims about team selections.