Quick Facts
Biography
Francisca Ordega (birthdate: 19 October 1993) is a Nigerian professional soccer player who also plays for Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League. She represented Nigeria women's national football team (Super Falcons) at both the FIFA Women's World Cup and African Women's Championship.
Club career
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. In 2011 she moved to Rivers Angels, a top club in Nigeria. A year later, sign with Russian Women's Football Championship club Rossiyanka. From 2013 to 2015, she played for Piteå IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. 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. On 22 December 2016, Sydney FC signed Ordega on loan, making her the first African to play in the Australian W-League.
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.
Honours
Club
- Nigerian Women's Cup (1): 2012
International
- African Women's Championship (3): 2010, 2014, 2016