Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has raised concerns over the growing problem of social media impersonation after fraudsters allegedly used her identity to spread false information about her involvement with Nigeria’s national team.
The defender reacted after reports circulated online claiming she was unhappy about being omitted from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 25 to August 16.
Plumptre quickly dismissed the reports, describing the accounts responsible for the claims as fraudulent and revealing that individuals have been impersonating her online for more than a year.
“Awful false accounts. I’ve posted on my IG and X for people to report. They are using my identity and scamming people. I’m currently contacting someone in Saudi Arabia to help me take these accounts down because this has been happening for well over a year now,” she said.
The controversy prompted a response from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which also described the reports as false.
According to the federation, no official squad list has been released for the tournament, making any claims regarding player selection premature and misleading.
NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, stated that Plumptre has repeatedly informed the public that she does not operate a Facebook account.
“This is totally false. Last year, Ashleigh Plumptre made a video in which she categorically said that she is NOT on Facebook; that some fellows are impersonating her and that she has tried several times to bring down the page without success. Nothing has changed about her absence from Facebook; the player is not on Facebook and nobody should believe anything that emanates from the cloned account,” David said.
She further clarified that the coaching crew has not yet submitted a final squad list for the competition.
“The other issue is that the coach has not submitted any list of players for the Women AFCON, so the scamster got it all wrong,” she added.
The NFF also used the opportunity to caution journalists, bloggers, and social media users against spreading unverified information.
“We appeal to well-meaning individuals to double-check whatever news item they see anywhere before escalating the same to other spaces. The incidence of fake news has become overwhelming and it is important that media owners and media workers consistently verify what they push out there for the sake of their own integrity and credibility,” David stated.
The incident highlights the increasing challenge of online impersonation faced by public figures, particularly athletes and celebrities whose identities are often exploited to spread misinformation or defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
As preparations continue for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Plumptre remains focused on her football career while efforts continue to remove the fake accounts operating under her name.
Nigeria will head into the tournament as defending champions, with fans eagerly awaiting the official squad announcement in the coming weeks.
