Football
Leonard Solms, Special to ESPN 3y

Barcelona's Oshoala tops ever-changing African women's rankings for October

October saw Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala get back to action for Barcelona, picking up where she left off at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, a thrilling finale to the closely contested Chinese Women's Super League saw Temwa Chawinga's Wuhan Chedu come out tops.

Honourable mentions go to Sarah Bouhaddi and Viviane Asseyi -- footballers of African descent who have been in superb form. However, given their status as superstar France internationals, they have not been included here.

We have, however, made space for a US U23 international -- slightly relaxing our previous policy of sticking to players within African national team setups, as she does not have a senior cap.

1. Asisat Oshoala, Barcelona

Africa's star that keeps shining began 2020-21 off the bench in Barcelona's 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid. She then netted twice in her first start -- a 6-0 Copa de la Reina semifinal drubbing of Sevilla.

Oshoala split the defence with an astute run and stroked the opener into the bottom corner in the fourth minute. She then doubled up with a fine first-touch finish from Leila Ouahabi's cross to score Barca's fourth goal.

After celebrating her 26th birthday the following day, Oshoala started the 6-0 thrashings of Logroño and Sporting de Huelva respectively, scoring her first goal of the new league season in the latter fixture.

She rounded off the month by scoring the third goal in Barcelona's 5-0 rout of Real Betis.

2. Temwa Chawinga, Wuhan Chedu

For most of the Chinese Women's Super League season, the title fight appeared to be a three-way toss-up. Temwa Chawinga's Wuhan Chedu, Barbra Banda's Shanghai Shengli and Tabitha Chawinga's Jiangsu Suning were the outstanding teams.

As it turned out, the younger of the Chawinga sisters emerged triumphant. Wuhan Chedu topped the first round with 25 points from nine games. Although they suffered their first defeat against Shanghai Shengli in the championship round, they bounced back to top the table once again.

Wuhan thus set up a final date with defending champions Jiangsu Suning. Temwa Chawinga set the tone for the match, lobbing the opposition goalkeeper to score the first goal in a 4-0 victory.

This was not only a first title for Wuhan, but a day we might possibly look back on as the making of a star. At 22 years old, do not be surprised if Chawinga goes on to bag many more honours in the near future.

3. Barbra Banda, Shanghai Shengli

Football is a team sport, but Zambia's Barbra Banda was the individual star of the show in the Chinese Women's Super League, finishing as top scorer with 18 goals in 13 games. Her closest challenger was Temwa Chawinga on half as many goals.

Shanghai Shengli narrowly missed out on a place in the final, but Banda's opener sent them on their way to a 3-1 win over Beijing Phoenix in the third-place playoff.

China has proved a useful stepping stone for Thembi Kgatlana and Asisat Oshoala in recent years. At only 20 years of age, Banda is well on course for superstardom.

4. Ifeoma Onumonu, Sky Blue FC

Nigeria-born USA U23 international Onumonu receives special recognition this month for her superb form in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Fall Series.

Onumonu was on target three times in four games for Sky Blue -- in September against Washington Spirit and Chicago Red Stars, and in October against Red Stars again.

Sky Blue, featuring Ghana's Jennifer Cudjoe and Cameroon's Estelle Johnson as well as Onumonu, finished fourth in the NWSL fall series standings with two wins and two defeats from their four fixtures.

5. Refiloe Jane, AC Milan

South Africa's midfield maestro has got the season off to a marvellous start at Milan. She did not come off the blocks flying in October as she started in a 1-0 defeat to Juventus. However, Jane and her teammates bounced back in style.

The 28-year-old was on target in Milan's 3-0 win over Empoli, effortlessly sweeping home the opener from close range off Valentina Giacinti's cut-back. Jane then lasted the duration of the derby against Inter Milan as her side triumphed 4-1.

6. Thembi Kgatlana, Eibar

After a short-lived stint at Benfica, SA's Kgatlana decided to test herself in Spain's top flight. So far, the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament has had a steady start to life at Eibar.

Kgatlana began with a cameo off the bench in a 1-0 win over Real Betis. She enjoyed her first big moment with her new club in the next game, coming on to score a dramatic stoppage time equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Levante.

A blemish came in the next match, as Kgatlana once again appeared off the bench in a 1-0 defeat to Madrid CFF, but she made amends by starting and scoring the only goal of the game against Espanyol on the final day of the month.

7. Tabitha Chawinga, Jiangsu Suning

Tabitha Chawinga was instrumental in Jiangsu Suning's run to the final of the Chinese Women's Super League, and even won her side a penalty in the 4-0 defeat to Wuhan. The fact that they failed to convert the spot-kick was beyond her control.

Nevertheless, the older Chawinga sister can be proud of a season in which she scored seven goals, finishing as top scorer for her team and joint fourth in the overall standings.

8. Anam Imo, FC Rosengård

Imo has kept up her valuable contribution to Rosengård's title push. Recently, she netted twice in a 3-2 Swedish Cup win over Eskilsminne. Altogether, she has scored four times in her last six appearances in all competitions.

Although she has not always been a regular starter this season, Imo is certainly justifying the game time currently being given to her at the tender age of 19.

9. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC

At only 19, Nigeria international goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie started in Paris FC's last three matches. Preferred to Brazil's Natascha Honegger, Nnadozie kept a clean sheet in a 5-0 win over Issy before featuring in a 1-1 draw with Fleury 91 and a 3-1 win over Stade de Reims.

Although she picked up a yellow card and was subsequently beaten from the penalty spot against Reims, Nnadozie can be proud of a month which cemented her status as one to watch between the sticks.

10. Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Eskilstuna United

Another Nigerian who had a standout month in the Damallsvenskan, Okobi-Okeoghene was on target in the recent 4-2 win over Uppsala for Eskilstuna United.

Okobi-Okeoghene was a constant thorn in the side of Eskilstuna and was denied another goal by Emma Holmgren. However, many goalkeepers will not have things all their way coming up against this 26-year-old.

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