Francisca Ordega


Francisca "Franny" Ordega is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Women's Super League.
She represents Nigeria women's national football team at both the FIFA Women's World Cup and African Women's Championship.
She was also nominated for best female African footballer

Playing career

Club

Bayelsa Queens

Ordega began her career at the youth level for Bayelsa Queens, before being promoted to the professional side in 2008 where she played at Nigerian Women's Championship.

Rivers Angels

In 2011, she moved to Rivers Angels, one of the top clubs in Nigerian Women's Championship.

WFC Rossiyanka

In 2012, Ordega left Nigeria to sign with Russian champions Rossiyanka of the Russian Women's Football Championship. In November 2012, it was announced that Ordega and Rossiyanka mutually parted ways.

Piteå IF

In 2013, Ordega signed for Piteå IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. She scored her first goal on 26 May 2013 in a drawing effort against Vittsjö GIK. Between 2013 and 2015, she made 34 appearances and score 4 goals during her time in Sweden.

Washington Spirit

Ordega then moved across the North Atlantic and signed with Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League. In her first season with the Spirit, Ordega scored three goals and made two assists. She returned in 2016 to score two goals during the regular season. The Nigerian's most memorable Spirit goal came in the NWSL Semifinal when she scored in extra time to send the Spirit to its first ever NWSL Championship.
In July 2017, Ordgea suffered a knee injury that would limit her minutes for the remainder of the season. Despite the injury, she would still earn 14 appearances and scoring 4 goals.
Loan to Sydney FC
In December 2016, Sydney FC signed Ordega on loan from Washington for the remainder of the 2016–17 W-League season. The loan made her the first African to play in the Australian W-League. Ordega would make six appearances and score once helping Sydney earn 3rd place in the league.
Loan to Atlético Madrid
On 20 October 2017, Ordega joined Spanish club Atlético Madrid on a six-month loan from Washington. She made her debut on 1 November 2017 against Barcelona.
Move to Shanghai WFC
Ordega secured a one year move to Shanghai WFC

International career

Ordega represented the Nigeria women's national football team in all levels. With the under 17, she played the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and with the under 20 at 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. At senior level she played in the FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments of 2011 and 2015. At the latter she opened her World Cup account by scoring Nigeria's equalizing goal against Sweden on 8 June 2015 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The pulsating match ended 3–3 in the opening game of Group D.
She was also part of Nigeria's squads at the African Women's Championship of 2010 and 2014, winning both tournaments.
In 2018,She was also a member of the Nigerian squad who won the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, A tournament where she had two goals and two assists and won the woman of the match award at the final game against South Africa.

International goals

Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1
1 November 2010Sinaba Stadium, Daveyton, South Africa
5–0
5–0
2010 African Women's Championship
2
17 October 2014Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia
2–0
2–0
2014 African Women's Championship
3
8 June 2015Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg, Canada
3–3
3–3
2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
4
20 November 2016Stade Municipal de Limbe, Limbe, Cameroon
1–0
6–0
2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations
5
21 November 2018Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana
2–0
4–0
2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations
6
24 November 2018Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana
1–0
6–0
2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations

Honours

Club

; Rivers Angels
; Atlético Madrid
; Nigeria