With Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala out of action for all of March due to injury, there are some relatively new faces in the African women’s power rankings for March.
African women’s players starred in Sweden, Mexico, Spain, France and Portugal, while Russia’s league continued apace despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
1. Anam Imo, Pitea
Anam Imo takes top spot after a stunning month with Piteå, which saw her make a major statement of intent at the start of the new Swedish Damallsvenskan season.
Nigeria‘s 21-year-old forward netted four goals in as many competitive matches — with all of them coming in her last two games of the month.
Imo netted a hat-trick against Mallbacken in a 5-0 Swedish Cup drubbing, and then scored in the 4-1 win over Djurgården to get her team’s league campaign off to the best possible start.
Imo scored five goals in 21 appearances in the 2021 Damallsvenskan, but looks determined to improve upon that and earn a spot in Nigeria’s squad for July’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations [AWCON] in Morocco.
2. Rosemonde Kouassi, Fleury 91
Ivorian striker Kouassi has been in fine form for Fleury. She scored in the 2-0 league win over Bordeaux, and in the 4-2 French Cup semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Kouassi has also contributed creatively, and assisted Léa Le Garrec’s goal in the Bordeaux victory.
Capped by Ivory Coast for the first time during the CAF 2020 Olympic qualifying tournament, the 20-year-old appears to have a bright future ahead.
3. Francisca Ordega, CSKA Moscow
Nigeria veteran Ordega has remained resolute under challenging circumstances in Moscow.
CSKA started the Russian Supreme Division with three wins from four matches and the experienced Super Falcons striker was on target twice.
Ordega hit the back of the net in the 2-0 win over Yenisey on March 13 and then again in the 3-0 victory over Ryazan on March 31.
4. Uchenna Kanu, Tigres UANL
Kanu was once again on target in March as Tigres thrashed Atlético de San Luis 6-0 in the Liga MX Feminil Clausura.
UANL sit second in the league with 30 points from 12 games, behind only Monterrey, who are three points clear.
Kanu has scored seven goals throughout the course of the season with Tigres already qualified for the Liguilla, the next stage of the competition featuring the top eight sides.
5. Rasheedat Ajibade, Atlético Madrid
Ajibade continues to deliver consistently for Las Rojiblancas as she scored in the 4-1 win over Granadilla Tenerife.
The versatile Super Falcons attacker has now been on target 10 times in 20 Primera Iberdrola matches in what has been her most prolific season in front of goal.
Atléti are on course to qualify for the first round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, having missed out this season.
6. Seynabou Mbengue, Yzeure
A surprise entry into our top 10 this month, Senegal’s Mbengue is rewarded for firing second-tier Yzeure into the final of the French Cup.
Her brace within half an hour ensured that Yzeure picked up a 2-1 victory over Nantes and set up a final date with giants PSG on May 15.
In the Division 2 Féminine, Yzeure sit third in Group B, eight points behind leaders Rodez with a game in hand.
7. Jermaine Seoposenwe, Braga
Seoposenwe picked up silverware this month as Braga won the Portuguese Women’s League Cup final, beating arch-rivals Benfica 3-2 on penalties.
The Banyana Banyana international has scored seven goals and picked up five assists in all competitions this season and continues to perform consistently.
South Africa have a looming friendly against the Netherlands on April 12 and she surely has done enough to earn a place in the squad.
8. Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Eskilstuna United
Eskilstuna United got their Damallsvenskan season off to a fine start with a 3-0 win over Hammarby, and Okobi-Okeoghene was on target, opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
The right-footed midfielder failed to score last season during Eskilstuna’s entire Damallsvenskan campaign, which saw them finish fourth. So she will be relieved to have broken her duck.
9. Jeannette Yango, Fleury 91
Cameroon’s defender-slash-midfielder Yango contributed at both ends of the pitch this past month for Fleury 91.
She started in all four of her appearances in March and featured in a Coupe de France penalty shootout win over Paris FC, a league rematch which ended in a 3-1 defeat, and a 2-0 league win over Bordeaux, before scoring in Fleury’s 4-2 cup semi-final defeat to PSG.
10. Gabrielle Onguéné, CSKA Moscow
While Ordega scored goals at one end of the pitch for CSKA in March, Onguéné was influential at the other.
The 33-year-old Cameroon defender played a role in keeping clean sheets in wins over Yenisey, Rubin Kazan and Ryazan. CSKA’s other match in March saw them lose 2-0 to Zenit St. Petersburg.
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