Ordega Quits Spain for Russia

Nigerian international Francisca Ordega switched to the tenth professional club at the weekend as she swapped Spanish Premiera Iberdrola side Levante for Russian club CSKA Moscow.

The 27-year-old forward left Levante five months into a three-year contract as she opts for a new adventure with the reigning Russian champions, who have another African – veteran Cameroon forward Gabrielle Onguene – on their books.

“Levante UD and CSKA Moscow have reached an agreement for the transfer of Francisca Ordega. The Nigerian landed in the granota team in the winter market of last season 2020-21 and participated in three matches,” the Valencia-based club announced on its website.

Ordega has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with ambitious CSKA who are competing in the new-look 2021/22 UEFA Women’s Champions League.

It’s a return to the Eastern European country where her overseas career began with Khimki-based Rossiyanka in 2012, whom she joined after stints with Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels in the domestic scene.

“I love to challenge myself every time so I enjoy taking on new tasks to test myself,” she admitted to BBC Sport Africa.

“Women’s football is fast growing in the last five years and teams are beginning to compete on a big stage.

“Playing in big competitions like the World Cup with my country and the Champions League with my club will only bring out the best in me.”

An established international player, she scored twice to help Nigeria win a ninth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in December 2018 and made the final three for CAF’s women’s Player of the Year award for 2018.