The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has once again urged media organizations, journalists, and members of the public to verify information obtained from social media before sharing or publishing it.
The federation’s latest appeal follows the circulation of a fake social media post claiming that Super Falcons defender Ashley Plumptre had expressed frustration over her alleged omission from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
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Speaking on Tuesday, NFF Director of Competitions, Ruth David, dismissed the report as entirely false, stressing that Plumptre does not operate a Facebook account and has repeatedly warned the public about impersonators using her identity online.
According to David, the defender had previously released a video clarifying that she is not on Facebook and had made several unsuccessful attempts to have fake accounts removed.
She also pointed out that no official Super Falcons squad has yet been submitted by the coaching crew for the WAFCON tournament, making the claims even more misleading.
“The coach has not submitted any list of players for the Women’s AFCON, so the scammer got it all wrong,” David stated.
She recalled a similar incident involving Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo, where false reports suggested she had complained about being left out of the squad. David explained that the striker was unavailable for the friendly matches against Senegal due to injury.
The NFF official also referenced an earlier false report claiming that Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala had retired from international football, a story that was later proven to be untrue.
David expressed concern over the increasing spread of misinformation surrounding the national women’s team and emphasized the importance of responsible journalism.
“The incidence of fake news has become overwhelming. Media owners and media practitioners must consistently verify information before publishing it in order to protect their integrity and credibility,” she said.
The NFF reiterated its call for caution and urged football fans to rely on verified sources for information concerning the Super Falcons and other national teams.
