The 2024–25 Saudi Women’s Premier League season has drawn to a close, with three Nigerian stars – Ashleigh Plumptre, Francisca Ordega, and Chinonyerem Macleans – leaving their mark on an expanded and increasingly competitive campaign, Soccernet.ng reports.
This third edition of the top-flight women’s league in Saudi Arabia saw the competition grow from eight to ten teams for the first time, as the region continues to enjoy rapid development of the women’s game.
Two-time defending champions Al-Nassr once again asserted their dominance by lifting their third consecutive title, finishing ahead of a spirited chasing pack.
For Nigeria’s Plumptre, Ordega, and Macleans, the season was full of highs, personal milestones, and lessons to take into next year.
Chinonyerem Macleans – Al Shabab
After spells in Belarus, Poland, and Russia, Chinonyerem Macleans made her move to Saudi Arabia official on October 1, 2024, just days after the new season had kicked off.
The prolific 25-year-old striker wasted no time adapting to her new environment, scoring six goals across her first 11 matches for Al Shabab – a run that included seven victories.
Macleans’ standout moment came on November 21 when she netted a stunning hat-trick in a 6-0 demolition of Eastern Flames, becoming just the second Nigerian after Plumptre to score three goals in a single Saudi Women’s League match.
However, her fortunes took a downturn in the second half of the campaign. Following a rule change that reduced the number of foreign players on club rosters from seven to six, Macleans found herself sidelined.
She made her final appearance of the season on January 25, playing 59 minutes in a 2-1 win over Al-Ahli Jeddah. Despite her early impact, she did not feature again as Al Shabab closed out the campaign in fourth place with 32 points from 18 games.
Ashleigh Plumptre – Al-Ittihad
Ashleigh Plumptre’s second season in Saudi Arabia didn’t quite hit the remarkable heights of her debut year, but the former Leicester City defender still delivered another impressive campaign for Al-Ittihad.
In her maiden season, Plumptre had stunned the league by scoring two hat-tricks, finishing with eight goals and four assists, and scooping up Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards along the way. She was also named in the Team of the Season.
This year, while not as prolific, Plumptre remained a key figure. She finished with five goals and six assists – a superb return for a defender – helping Al-Ittihad to a seventh-place finish with 25 points from 18 matches.
Fittingly, she ended the season in style, scoring twice and setting up two more goals – one for fellow Super Falcons star Ordega – in a 6-0 rout of Eastern Flames on the final day.
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Francisca Ordega – Al-Ittihad
One of Africa’s most decorated female footballers, Francisca Ordega added a new chapter to her illustrious career by making her Saudi Women’s Premier League debut in early 2025.
The former Atlético Madrid star, who boasts four Africa Women’s Cup of Nations titles with Nigeria, joined Al-Ittihad midway through the season and quickly made her presence felt.
Ordega claimed the Player of the Month award for February/March, becoming only the second Nigerian – after Plumptre – to earn the accolade.
Despite playing just seven matches, the 31-year-old forward scored six goals and registered three assists, leaving no one in doubt of her immense quality.
She capped off her debut season by netting the fourth goal in Al-Ittihad’s 6-0 win over Eastern Flames, finishing off a move created by none other than Plumptre in the 82nd minute.
With the 2025–26 campaign just around the corner, Ordega will be eager to build on her strong start and lead Al-Ittihad to greater heights.
