In a testament to the rising global profile of African women’s football, three standout performers from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) have been nominated for the prestigious CAF African Woman Player of the Year award. Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga and Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda, who all enjoyed stellar seasons in America’s top flight, find themselves in contention for the continent’s highest individual honor.
Chawinga and Banda Break NWSL Records
Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga set the NWSL alight in her debut campaign, scoring a record-breaking 20 goals in the regular season to claim the Golden Boot. The prolific Malawian also became the first player to find the net against every team in a single season of 10 or more clubs. Her incredible exploits have made her a frontrunner for CAF’s top prize.
Not to be outdone, Zambia captain Barbra Banda netted 13 times for Orlando Pride to equal the club’s single-season scoring record held by the iconic Marta. Banda’s influence extended beyond her goalscoring prowess, as she helped Orlando reach the NWSL playoffs for the first time. The 22-year-old also starred at the Olympic Games, notching a hat-trick against China to make history as the first woman to score multiple trebles in the competition.
Nigeria’s Nnadozie in Goalkeeper of the Year Contention
Paris FC’s Nigerian shot-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie also features among the nominees after a remarkable year between the posts. The 21-year-old kept a division-high seven clean sheets in France’s Division 1 Féminine to scoop the Goalkeeper of the Year award, becoming the first African winner. Nnadozie’s cat-like reflexes and command of her area have seen her touted as a future great.
Chiamaka’s performances have been nothing short of exceptional. She has all the attributes to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Close source to Nnadozie
Oshoala’s Reign Comes to an End
Conspicuous by her absence from the 10-woman shortlist is Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, who has claimed the African crown a record four times in the last five years. Despite winning Spain’s Pichichi award as the league’s top scorer, the 27-year-old misses out for the first time in more than a decade in a changing of the guard.
African Stars Light Up the Global Stage
The strong NWSL presence among the nominees reflects the growing stature and influence of African talent in the women’s game worldwide. No longer content to be bit-part players, the continent’s finest are now taking leading roles in clubhouses from Kansas City to Madrid:
- Ajibade shining for Atlético Madrid in Spain
- Seoposenwe & Kgatlana starring in Mexico with Monterrey & Tigres UANL
- Kundananji firing Zambia to new heights
As the popularity of women’s football continues to skyrocket globally, African players are at the forefront of this exciting era. With NWSL stars leading the charge, the continent looks set to remain a conveyor belt of world-class talent for years to come.
Winner to be Crowned in December
The CAF Awards return after a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the winner to be announced at a gala ceremony in Morocco on July 21. With several worthy contenders, Africa’s football family waits with bated breath to discover who will be crowned Queen of the Continent for 2024.
Not to be outdone, Zambia captain Barbra Banda netted 13 times for Orlando Pride to equal the club’s single-season scoring record held by the iconic Marta. Banda’s influence extended beyond her goalscoring prowess, as she helped Orlando reach the NWSL playoffs for the first time. The 22-year-old also starred at the Olympic Games, notching a hat-trick against China to make history as the first woman to score multiple trebles in the competition.
Nigeria’s Nnadozie in Goalkeeper of the Year Contention
Paris FC’s Nigerian shot-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie also features among the nominees after a remarkable year between the posts. The 21-year-old kept a division-high seven clean sheets in France’s Division 1 Féminine to scoop the Goalkeeper of the Year award, becoming the first African winner. Nnadozie’s cat-like reflexes and command of her area have seen her touted as a future great.
Chiamaka’s performances have been nothing short of exceptional. She has all the attributes to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Close source to Nnadozie
Oshoala’s Reign Comes to an End
Conspicuous by her absence from the 10-woman shortlist is Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, who has claimed the African crown a record four times in the last five years. Despite winning Spain’s Pichichi award as the league’s top scorer, the 27-year-old misses out for the first time in more than a decade in a changing of the guard.
African Stars Light Up the Global Stage
The strong NWSL presence among the nominees reflects the growing stature and influence of African talent in the women’s game worldwide. No longer content to be bit-part players, the continent’s finest are now taking leading roles in clubhouses from Kansas City to Madrid:
- Ajibade shining for Atlético Madrid in Spain
- Seoposenwe & Kgatlana starring in Mexico with Monterrey & Tigres UANL
- Kundananji firing Zambia to new heights
As the popularity of women’s football continues to skyrocket globally, African players are at the forefront of this exciting era. With NWSL stars leading the charge, the continent looks set to remain a conveyor belt of world-class talent for years to come.
Winner to be Crowned in December
The CAF Awards return after a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the winner to be announced at a gala ceremony in Morocco on July 21. With several worthy contenders, Africa’s football family waits with bated breath to discover who will be crowned Queen of the Continent for 2024.
