Women's World Cup 2023: Former England players on why they switched allegiances
A raft of England's finest former youth players are set to walk out on to the world stage this month, but not all will represent the Lionesses. Some will play for the land of their parents or grandparents after opting to switch sporting nationality.
BBC Sport has spoken to Tottenham pair Rosella Ayane and Becky Spencer and Leicester City's Ashleigh Plumptre about that bold decision - and its consequences.
When Morocco secured their first ever Women's World Cup place last year, Spurs forward Ayane had to get on a chair and make good on an earlier promise.
The first English player from the Women's Super League to represent the Atlas Lionesses, she had changed sporting allegiance from England the year before but was yet to perform her initiation song.
Pressed to deliver at the start of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Ayane had put her new team-mates off, insisting they grab that World Cup ticket with a top-four finish first.
"They didn't forget," she laughs. "The minute we got into the hotel after we'd qualified, they made me stand up on the chair and I sang my little heart out.
"I picked an Adele song that everyone knew and they embraced it, they joined in and it showed how much they want me to be a part of that family."
Born in Reading to a Scottish mum and Moroccan dad, 27-year-old Ayane was raised in England's youth system alongside current Lionesses Leah Williamson and Katie Zelem.
But with no senior caps by 2021, and with Morocco having twice reached out, she chose to fulfil her still burning international ambitions with the Atlas Lionesses.
"I was very honoured," she says. "And not only did it feel right football-wise, it felt right mentally for the place I was at."
Unable to speak
Read on bbc.com
