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Zambian and Madrid CFF striker Racheal Kundananji topped the African women’s power rankings in December after a series of very good performances at club and national team level.
In the month that the WAFCON qualifiers have ended, the Copper Queens star joins our no-nonsense 10 via one of his foreign teammates, as well as players from Nigeria, South Africa and even Malawi, who will be present in Morocco.
1. Racheal Kundananji, Madrid SBB
Kundananji capped off a year to remember with a brace for Zambia against Angola, and goals for Madrid in wins over Valencia and Villarreal.
After scoring a goal for the Copper Queens in the second leg of the WAFCON 6-0 in November, Kundananji followed that up with two goals in the second leg in December, which also ended with a 6-0 thrashing and thus an overall rout. 0-for-12.
Kundananji then scored a goal which sparked a Madrid comeback in the Liga F clash with Valencia – the first for her team in a game which saw them battle from 2-0 down to claim a 4-3 victory.
In her final game of 2023, Kundananji once again opened the scoring for Madrid – this time in a more comfortable 2-0 win over Villarreal.
2. Linda Motlhalo, City of Glasgow
Motlhalo is another player who has inspired both club and country in December, with midfielder Banyana Banyana scoring a goal to help reigning champions South Africa qualify for WAFCON and going on to play a key artistic role for the city of Glasgow.
He saved a penalty for Banyana in the second leg of the 2-0 WAFCON second round against Burkina Faso, then set up Kinga Kozak for a goal in City’s 3-1 win over Hibernian. He then assisted Lauren. Davidson in a 6-0 loss to Partick Thistle.
It hasn’t been the best seasons for City, who trail local rivals Rangers in eight editions of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL), but Motlhalo can look back and look back on 2023 as a hugely positive year.
He played a significant role in the knockout stages of the Banyana Banyana World Cup and last season’s SWPL victory after arriving in Glasgow.
3. Rasheedat Ajibade, Atletico Madrid
Nigeria were all but assured of a WAFCON spot by the start of December after they beat Cape Verde 5-0 in the qualifying second round first leg clash in the previous month, but they put it beyond doubt with a 2-1 second leg win, which Rasheedat Ajibade’s stoppage time strike secured.
The forward then regained that form at Atletico Madrid, where she scored in a 2-0 win over Real Betis.
Atléti are fifth in Liga F heading into the new year but are just one point behind second-place Real Madrid and still in contention for a spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
4. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC
Speaking of the Champions League, there is one Nigerian foreigner who has jumped into it like a duck in water: CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie.
As well as being the first player to win the continental award for shot saves this month, Nnadozie also made it back-to-back wins against Real Madrid: a 2-1 home win followed by a clean sheet in a 1-0 away triumph.
Domestically, Paris beat Montpellier 4-1 but lost 2-1 to giants Paris Saint-Germain in the derthrough. However, they have exceeded expectations this season by maintaining speed with Lyon and PSG in the race for the name, lately second in the table. the former, although the latter have two games in hand.
5. Tabitha Chawinga, Paris Saint-Germain
Malawi star Chawinga continued his prolific start at PSG with a goal in the UWCL’s 3-1 win over AS Roma.
Chawinga now has eight goals in all competitions for her new club in 15 appearances, having been loaned by Wuhan Jiangda at the start of the season.
The win over Roma was important as it put PSG at their best in their organisation and on course to qualify for the quarter-finals as they are. Domestically, they will be five leaders of Lyon if they win any of their remaining matches.
6. Barbra Banda, Shanghai Shengli
Along with Oshoala and Kgatlana, Banda placed in the top three in the CAF Women’s Player of the Year rankings.
A year in which the Zambia star scored the 1,000th goal in FIFA Women’s World Cup history against Costa Rica ended with her WAFCON qualifying goal against Angola, following her hat-trick in the first leg.
Their performances in qualifying were a timely reminder that the Copper Queens should be counted among the favourites to win the upcoming tournament, particularly if Banda is allowed to play, unlike in 2022 when she was ruled out over high testosterone levels.
7. Toni Payne, Seville
Midfielder Payne became a goalscorer this month when she uncovered Sevilla’s back in a 1-1 draw with Athletic Club.
Bilbao took the lead in the 34th minute, but Payne’s stoppage-time equaliser late in the first half sealed the point for the sixth-placed Liga F side.
Payne is also part of the Nigerian team that qualified for WAFCON, where she is likely to be a key player.
8. Esther Okoronkwo, UD Tenerife
In addition to Ajibade, Okoronkwo was the other Nigerian player to score in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Cape Verde and found the net in style.
Cape Verde had taken the lead in the second leg and the Super Falcons had already wasted several to equalize. Nnadozie then sent the ball onto the pitch and discovered Okoronkwo, who skidded past his marker, then squeezed between two defenders before unleashing from the edge of the field. The box rolls up at the back corner.
9. Christy Ucheibe, Benfica
Ucheibe continues under the Nigerian flag in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and in December played for Benfica in a 1-0 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt and then a 1-1 draw away from home.
Usually a midfielder (an important link between defense and attack for the national team in particular), she was deployed in central defense in a defensive trio that fit in in Lisbon and will have been very happy to leave with a clean sheet.
Ucheibe started both games and picked up two fouls in the win, with a shot on goal that went wide.
10. Asisat Oshoala, Barcelona
Oshoala remains in our top 10 despite a less prolific December than in November, as she enjoys a moment to savour this month, being crowned African Footballer of the Year for the sixth time.
The Super Falcons striker, who extended her record for most wins, had a phenomenal year as she won her second UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Barcelona.
Barca continue to dominate Spanish and European women’s football and it can be difficult to find minutes in a team full of talent, but this month Oshoala was involved in the UWCL’s 7-0 win over Rosengård and the 2-0 La Liga win over UD Tenerife.