Ordega Returns to Training, Boosts Al Ittihad Ladies Ahead of Key Fixtures

Super Falcons forward Francisca Ordega has returned to full team training with Al Ittihad Ladies in Saudi Arabia after several weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Her rehabilitation had been closely monitored by club staff, and her comeback is timed ahead of crucial fixtures that could influence the club’s standing in the Saudi Women’s Premier League.

Ordega’s return offers the club a significant attacking boost, as she brings both international experience with the Super Falcons and decades of professional football across Europe and Asia.

Editorial

When an experienced forward such as Francisca Ordega returns to full training after injury, it is not simply a matter of numbers added back into the squad it is a replenishment of ambition, leadership and presence. Al Ittihad Ladies will welcome her not for the minutes she lost, but for the influence she regains.

In modern women’s club football, the margin between success and stagnation often lies in depth and experience. Ordega’s return brings both. Her career, spanning continents, tells us that she knows the weight of expectation, the grind of rehabilitation and the value of readiness. For Al Ittihad, competing in the rapidly evolving Saudi Women’s Premier League, her presence anchors a higher standard.

This moment also reminds us of the broader narrative: Nigerian women’s footballers forging paths abroad and returning stronger. The Super Falcons have long been a crucible of global talent, but support and continuity beyond the national team matter. Ordega’s return to training speaks to the professional environment she now inhabits and the standards she expects—not just of herself, but of her team.

For the club’s upcoming fixtures, her availability is more than tactical flexibility it is psychological. Opponents know when such a forward features, the threat level rises. Teammates know the standard elevates. Coaching staff know the options expand.

But the story is not done. Injury lay-off means match-sharpness must be rebuilt. Working legs, timing, confidence all need reintegration. And while full training is a vital step, the stakes now lie in match minutes, impact and consistency. If Ordega harnesses this return well, it may signal not just recovery, but resurgence.

In the tapestry of this season, this moment could mark a turning point. For Al Ittihad and for Ordega individually, it is less about the lay-off that was, and more about the trajectory ahead. Because in elite sport, timing matters. And the best returns are often quieter than the initial injury but infinitely more potent.

Did You Know?

1. Francisca Ordega joined Al Ittihad Ladies in January 2025 on a two year deal, making her one of the first high-profile Nigerian women’s players in the Saudi Women’s Premier League.
2. She has represented the Super Falcons at four FIFA Women’s World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019, 2023), illustrating her long-standing status at the top level.
3. Ordega once played for CSKA Moscow in the Russian Women’s League, scoring 24 goals in 62 appearances, underlining her experience in multiple international leagues.
4. Her return to training follows a hamstring injury lay-off hamstring issues are among the most common injuries affecting female footballers, often requiring 4–8 weeks off depending on severity.
5. The Saudi Women’s Premier League has been growing rapidly since its launch, and the addition of players like Ordega helps elevate the league’s competitive standard and global profile.