Participants at the Francisca Ordega Foundation’s female football clinic will find bigger opportunities.
Founded by Nigeria’s international, Francisca Mlumun Ordega, OON, the foundation, in collaboration with Al-Ittihad FC, Saudi Arabia, hosted a two-day female football clinic from Sunday, January 4 to Monday, January 5 at the McCarthy Stadium, Makurdi, Benue State capital.
The Francisca Ordega Foundation says the initiative aims to empower young female athletes with professional training and mentorship from Super Falcons stars, including Francisca Ordega herself and Ashleigh Plumptre.
More than 100 female footballers participated in the clinic, which targeted players aged 14-18 and local coaches, focusing on “modern football techniques, tactical awareness, and skill development.”
The female football clinic is part of the Francisca Ordega Foundation’s efforts to promote women’s football in Nigeria and to provide young girls with opportunities to develop their skills.
Ordega expressed gratitude to partners, supporters, international guests, and lovers of the Francisca Ordega Foundation across the globe for “a wonderful show of love and support.”
“To our participants, thank you for your commitment. We look forward to bigger opportunities as we will not relent in making Benue State, the Middle Belt, and of course Nigeria become the hub for female footballers,” the Ordega Foundation says in a statement.
The football clinic “also featured cultural exchanges, with Plumptre participating in local Tiv traditions, highlighting the event’s emphasis on community and cultural connection,” the statement went on.
Ordega’s teammates, both in the Super Falcons and Al-Ittihad, “Ashley Plumptre embraced local traditions, participating in a performance of the Tiv traditional Swange music and dance while dressed in the authentic Tiv A’nger attire. This display emphasised the event’s goal of fostering sports tourism and cultural connection alongside athletic development.”
Vancouver Ter Alam told TNT Sport that Ordega was “overwhelmed with the turnout and reception.”
The two-day football clinic ended with the grand finale of the second edition of the Francisca Ordega Foundation Female Soccer Competition, where Charity Academy FC Gboko trashed the Invincible Angels FC Gboko one-nil to emerge as the champions.
