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Orlando Pride are getting a goal machine in Zambia striker Barbra Banda

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Lawson: Women's transfer records not slowing down any time soon (2:43)

Sophie Lawson reacts to NWSL expansion side Bay FC signing striker Racheal Kundananji for a reported fee of $787,600. (2:43)

With Orlando Pride set to finalise a near-record deal for Zambia striker Barbra Banda from Shanghai, the NWSL continues to reap the benefits of Africa's footballing growth in recent years.

February saw Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco and Zambia - the four teams who represented Africa at the FIFA Women's World Cup last year - book their places in the semi-finals of the continent's Olympic qualifying tournament.

Among the players who stood out in qualifying were four from Mexico's Liga MX Femenil, with Thembi Kgatlana in particular starring as she led Banyana Banyana to victory against Tanzania.

However, then-Shanghai Shengli's Banda was the standout player as she dominated during Zambia's win over Ghana.

1. Barbra Banda, Shanghai Shengli

Banda was at her brilliant best right when Zambia needed her most in the second leg of their tie against Ghana, with her brace sealing a 3-3 draw and a 4-3 aggregate win.

Profiting off captain fantastic Banda's assist, Bay FC's world record signing Racheal Kundananji had scored the only goal of the first leg. Banda drew first blood in brilliant fashion in the second, skipping round the outside and firing home in the 10th minute.

Zambia's porous defence allowed Ghana back into the tie, but Banda put it to bed in the seventh minute of stoppage time, drilling a free-kick into the bottom corner to book the Copper Queens a date with Morocco in the semi-finals.

2. Thembi Kgatlana, Tigres UANL

Kgatlana scored in both legs as South Africa beat Tanzania 4-0 on aggregate - 3-0 away and then 1-0 at home.

In the first leg, she controlled Racing Louisville FC's Linda Motlhalo's pass with her right foot before firing across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to score Banyana's second goal of the game.

In the return fixture, Kgatlana scored another poacher's goal as she met Kholosa Biyana's low free-kick into the box and cleverly fired into the net. Banyana secured a semi-final date with Nigeria.

3. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC

While Kgatlana and Banda were instrumental upfront for South Africa and Zambia respectively, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie did everything Nigeria could have asked of her at the other end of the pitch in their slender 1-0 aggregate win over Cameroon.

The first leg ended in an underwhelming 0-0 draw, but it is in these sorts of unmemorable fixtures where goalkeepers earn their living and that is precisely what Nnadozie did, with her saves keeping Nigeria on level terms.

In the second leg, she once again kept a clean sheet as Nigeria dominated and Esther Okoronkwo's goal was the difference between the teams.

4. Jennifer Echegini, Juventus

Echegini set up Okoronkwo's winner for the Super Falcons and was influential throughout the tie against Cameroon.

The 22-year-old, who joined Juventus in January, also put in a huge shift at club level as she scored both goals in a 2-0 win over fierce rivals Inter.

If she continues at her current pace, Echegini will likely soon become one of the best African women's footballers to play the game.

5. Tabitha Chawinga, Paris Saint-Germain

Chawinga continued her fine scoring form for French giants PSG as the Malawi star scored a crucial goal in the 1-1 draw to title rivals Lyon and was also on the scoresheet in a 5-0 drubbing of Guingamp.

On loan from Wuhan Jiangda, Chawinga has scored 11 goals in 14 Division 1 Féminine appearances for PSG. Although her opener against Lyon was cancelled out by an equaliser, it was still a critical goal as PSG trail Lyon by seven points.

Had the deficit grown to 10 points, then the title race would have been all but over, but as it stands, PSG live to fight another day.

6. Racheal Kundananji, Bay FC

February saw Kundananji become the most expensive women's footballer of all time with a $787,000 move to Bay FC from Madrid CFF.

Kundananji also played a critical role for Zambia in their narrow win over Ghana, particularly in the first leg, which saw her deliver a masterclass of a performance.

Kundananji linked up with Banda on several occasions to unsettle the Black Queens defence. Her key moment came on the counter-attack as Banda slipped the ball in behind and Kundananji's deft chip over goalkeeper Victoria Antwi Agyei broke the deadlock in the 19th minute.

However, in the second leg, Kundananji left the field on a stretcher after a knee injury, with the impact yet to be determined.

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Kundananji's agent reveals her 'shock' in finding out world record fee

Football agent Chris Atkins explains why Bay FC paid a world record fee for Racheal Kundananji.

7. Jermaine Seoposenwe, Monterrey

Seoposenwe made her 100th appearance for Banyana Banyana in the second leg of the tie against Tanzania. Often an unsung hero in the team, she has received due praise from supporters and the media for a remarkable achievement.

Before that, Seoposenwe was on the scoresheet in the 3-0 first leg win in Dar Es Salaam and also scored for Monterrey in their 3-2 victory over Universidad Nacional in what was an impressive month.

8. Hildah Magaia, Mazatlán Femenil

Magaia scored Banyana's third goal in Dar Es Salaam and was also on target for Mazatlán against Atlético de San Luis in February.

A late bloomer who began to blossom in her mid-20s, like many other South African footballers, Magaia is arguably in the form of her career and shows no signs of slowing down.

9. Esther Okoronkwo, UD Tenerife

Okoronkwo scored the winner for Nigeria against the Indomitable Lionesses, getting herself into the right place at the right time and diverting Echegini's cut-back into the net from close range.

She was unlucky to have another goal incorrectly ruled out for offside in the first leg and continues to impress whenever she pulls on the Super Falcons shirt.

10. Osinachi Ohale, Pachuca

Nigeria were in complete control in the second leg against Cameroon, but they found themselves under pressure in the first leg and needed the experience and calmness under pressure of the unflappable Ohale at the back to shut the Indomitable Lionesses out.

Ohale is playing for Pachuca - the fourth player in this month's top 10 playing in Mexico, alongside South African trio Kgatlana, Seoposenwe and Magaia.