Temwa Chawinga leads the NWSL goalscoring charts this season and equaled Sam Kerr’s single-season record at the weekend. So is she Africa’s best striker ahead of Barbra Banda, Asisat Oshoala and Racheal Kundananji?

In September, Chawinga (Kansas City Current) of Malawi put her hand on the NWSL Golden Boot when she stood head and shoulders above her nearest challenger, Banda of Zambia (NWSL Shield winner Orlando Pride), who won last month was also one of the goalscorers.

Another African international who has scored goals with ease in recent games is Nigeria’s Oshoala (Bay FC). Although it is too late for her to be considered a serious challenger for this season’s Golden Boot, her upturn in form four games before the playoffs is promising for Bay fans.

1. Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current

Temwa Chawinga, the younger half of two sisters who defined a generation for Malawi’s women’s football, was neck and neck with Banda in the race to be the NWSL’s top scorer for most of the season, but that is no longer the case.

After scoring a consolation goal in a 2-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage, Chawinga scored in wins over the Utah Royals (1-0) and Washington Spirit (3-0) and in a 1-1 draw against Gotham FC. The only game in September in which she did not score was a 0-0 draw against Banda’s Orlando Pride.

She also got October off to a good start, scoring her 18th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville, tying Kerr’s NWSL single-season record with three games to go.

Interestingly, Temwa is not on the nomination list for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, while her sister Tabitha and Banda are on the list. An oversight in retrospect?

2. Asisat Oshoala, Bay FC

Oshoala had only scored three goals in her first 17 NWSL appearances, but she scored three more in September. Oshoala then scored her fourth goal in five games in a 5-1 loss to Gotham FC earlier in October.

The past month has been a return to form that has seen Oshoala named African Female Footballer of the Year a staggering six times.

It may have come too late for them to win the award for the third time in a row and seventh overall, but Oshoala’s upturn in form comes at the perfect time for Bay, who are currently in eighth place. If the league season ended today, they would secure the last playoff spot on offer.

If they can get the best out of Oshoala and her Zambian teammate Kundananji, who doesn’t make our form-based rankings this month but has shown flashes of shine in recent months, Bay can never be completely ruled out.

3. Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride

Banda prevailed in the battle for African women’s football when she took on Oshoala and Kundananji’s Bay FC with her Orlando Pride.

Banda had an excellent game and had threatened to score throughout, but Bay initially successfully frustrated them with a fine save from Katelyn Rowland in the 19th minute and several other chances not quite coming to fruition.

Everything changed in the 84th minute when, after a cross from Carson Pickett from deep on the left, Banda took out Banda and, despite a touch from Rowland, whose desperate jump could not prevent her 13th goal of the season – a joint record goal for the Club – headed home season balance. She shares the record with none other than Brazilian Marta, who achieved the same feat in 2017.

The Pride began October with a 2-0 win over the Washington Spirit to secure the NWSL Shield title and the most regular season points, with the winner of the NWSL Championship still to be determined in the playoffs.

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How do you stop Barbra Banda?

Washington Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez talks about the Orlando Pride’s Zambian forward, who is the NWSL’s second-leading scorer this season.

4. Gift Monday, Tenerife

Super Falcons international Monday has emerged as a front-runner for UD Tenerife, scoring three goals in her first four appearances for her new club – including two in three appearances in September.

Monday scored twice in the 4-1 win over Sevilla and set up Babajide’s goal between her own goals. At the start of the new month she scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win over Real Betis.

Their heroics are a reminder that Oshoala may be back on form, but her place at the forefront of the Super Falcons’ attack is no longer a guarantee.

5. Rinsola Babajide, Tenerife

Babajide, who made her debut for Nigeria in October last year after representing England at youth level, has made a good start to the Spanish League F season for UD Tenerife.

Babajide, who scored just three league goals for Tenerife last season, scored twice in her first four appearances this season.

In addition to her goals in the 4-1 win against Sevilla and the 1-4 loss against Real Madrid, Babajide also picked up an assist for her compatriot Gift Monday in the 1-2 loss against Madrid CFF.

6. Thembi Kgatlana, Tigres UANL

Kgatlana continues to play for Tigres in one of the most exciting leagues in women’s football today – the fast-growing Liga MX Femenil.

She not only scored in the 2-0 Liga MX win over Mazatlan, but also in the 7-1 win over Jamaica’s Frazsiers Whip in the CONCACAF Champions Cup tie.

UANL is currently second in the Liga MX Apertura, trailing leaders Pachuca only on goal difference at the time of writing.

In the Champions Cup, they won both Group A games and are two points ahead of Monterrey and Gotham FC in the overall standings.

7. Tabitha Chawinga, Olympique Lyon

The older star Chawinga sister Tabitha was on loan from Wuhan Jiangda to Paris Saint-Germain last season. Now she is back in France on a permanent contract, albeit with PSG’s bitter rivals – Olympique Lyon.

Chawinga has made a breakthrough with the reigning French champions, who she failed to beat last season. She scored the fourth goal in the 52nd minute in a 6-0 win against Strasbourg.

8. Jermaine Seoposenwe, Monterrey

Seoposenwe continues to shine for Monterrey as they push Pachuca and UANL to the top of Liga MX.

In September, the Banyana Banyana international scored two goals in a 3-1 win over Queretaro and picked up an assist in a 5-0 CONCACAF Champions Cup win over Frazsiers Whip.

9. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC

Nigerian goalkeeper Nnadozie and Paris FC had a mixed September. Despite a 9-0 defeat against First Vienna and a 2-0 win over Sparta Praha, they failed to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League as they suffered an 8-0 aggregate defeat against Manchester City in the final. and second leg had to accept qualifying round.

However, Nnadozie returned the favor with an excellent performance in the 8-0 win over Le Havre in the league. The fact that Paris FC won the game by such a large margin with 12 shots on goal compared to eight shots on goal in Le Havre is testament to their concentration on the day and one of their best saves came when Paris FC were already leading 6-0 .

Paris started October with a 1-0 defeat against St. Etienne but lies fourth in the league after three games.

10. Rosemonde Kouassi, Washington Spirit

Ivorian striker Kouassi, who signed a four-year deal with the Spirit in July, gave fans a glimpse of why she was considered a smart investment at 22, setting up the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Angel City.

Her precise pass allowed Makenna Morris to score the winning goal in the 78th minute. Largely thanks to their contribution in this game, the Spirit remained second in the league, behind only the Orlando Pride.