Africa's women's football stars continue to impress around the world in December, despite the crowd-pleasing NWSL season coming to an end in November.
Nigeria has always had tremendous depth in the goalscoring department and this was demonstrated in December as Ifeoma Onumonu, Jennifer Echegini, Gift Monday and Rinsola Babajide all scored for their respective clubs.
Given that our rankings are form-based, many of the best African players miss out this month on account of having had little to no playing time, but when the 2025 NWSL season kicks off, the likes of Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga and Racheal Kundananji are likely to return.
1. Ifeoma Onumonu, Montpellier
Onumonu scored in Montpellier's 4-2 defeat to Dijon and although the match did not end in victory, it extended her scoring run to six successive games with a total of seven goals across them including November's strike against France.
The Nigeria striker joined Montpellier in the Première Ligue after a brief stint with Utah Royals, having previously played for the California Golden Bears, Boston Breakers, Portland Thorns, Reign FC and Gotham FC.
2. Jennifer Echegini, Paris Saint-Germain
At 23 years old, Echegini is one of the leaders of a new generation of Nigerian stars. Playing in behind Marie-Antoinette Katoto, December saw her score a crucial opener in the derby against Paris FC. Ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
PSG are second in the Première Ligue, three points behind leaders Lyon and four points ahead of Paris FC. Thanks in no small part to Echegini's contribution, they remain hot on the heels of the defending champions at the top of the table.
3. Rinsola Babajide, Tenerife
Babajide scored the opener for Tenerife in their 2-2 Liga F draw with Atlético Madrid. The London-born forward made her debut for Nigeria last year and has been playing on the left of a front three in Liga F this season.
Babajide has four goals and one assist in 11 league appearances this season, already surpassing her tally from the 2023/24 campaign.
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4. Tabitha Chawinga, Olympique Lyon
Chawinga provided the assist for Melchie Dumornay for the opening goal in Lyon's 5-1 win over Nantes.
Having emerged on the wrong side of the title race between Lyon and PSG last season, the elder Chawinga sister crossed over from the latter to the former and although she is in a competitive squad, she continues to find ways to make an impact.
In the Première Ligue, she has scored six goals and made four assists in 11 appearances this season.
5. Gift Monday, Tenerife
Nigeria forward Monday scored for Tenerife in their 6-2 Copa de la Reina defeat against European champions Barcelona.
Monday capitalised off Pisco's assist in the 41st minute to instigate a comeback as Tenerife came back from 2-0 down to level the scores before half-time. Ultimately, they couldn't survive Barcelona's onslaught late in the second half - but then again, few teams could.
6. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC
Nigeria goalkeeper Nnadozie was in goal for Paris FC as they drew the derby 1-1 with PSG and also picked up a resounding 4-0 win over Dijon.
She may have been higher up the rankings had this month seen her bail Paris out as she has on many occasions before. However, in December, her defence did her proud.
7. Linda Motlhalo, Racing Louisville
Motlhalo struggled for game time at Racing Louisville in the 2024 NWSL season with only three appearances. However, when in a Banyana Banyana shirt, she tends to remind the world of what she can do.
The midfielder scored for South Africa in their 3-2 defeat to Jamaica this month, earning her a spot in the rankings.
8. Ibtissam Jraïdi, Al Ahli
Jraïdi continued her fine goalscoring form for title-challenging Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia over the past month, netting against Al Nassr and bagging a brace against Al Qadsiah.
Not only that, but she also scored for Morocco in their 1-0 win over Mali. The Atlas Lionesses will be the hosts at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from July 5-26 and her clinical form is an encouraging sign from a team looking to go one better after finishing as runners-up to South Africa in 2022.
9. Ajara Nchout Njoya, Al Qadsiah
Nchout Njoya, who has been Cameroon's leading striker in recent years, has scored 14 goals in nine Saudi Women's Premier League games this season.
December saw her score in a 3-0 win over Al Shabab and bag a hat-trick in a 9-2 drubbing of Al Taraji.
10. Ashleigh Plumptre, Al Ittihad
Plumptre remains an important defensive presence for Nigeria after moving to the Saudi Women's Premier League's Al Ittihad from Leicester City. At club level, December was a good month for her.
She not only helped Al Ittihad secure clean sheets in their 3-0 win over Al Taraji and 4-0 win over Eastern Flames but also provided an assist for Lili Iskandar's goal in the latter of the two games.
Saudi Arabia has attracted some of Africa's best talents in the women's game as well as the men's and shows no signs of slowing down. Just over six months before the WAFCON, neither does Plumptre