Football
Leonard Solms, Special to ESPN 1y

Inter Milan duo top African women's power rankings for September

September saw many of the top African women's players return to action, joining the likes of Tabitha Chawinga and Ajara Nchout, who were already on top form by the end of August.

The Inter Milan duo top this month's rankings, but there are several players from across the continent snapping at their heels as the European season gets into full swing.

1. Tabitha Chawinga, Inter Milan

Chawinga has carried her sensational form from the Chinese Women's Super League into Serie A with her new club, Inter Milan.

The Malawi star scored her first league goal for Inter in August's 4-1 win over Parma, but September was the month in which she truly announced herself, netting a brace in the 3-3 draw with defending champions and fierce rivals Juventus.

Inter sit top of the table at the time of writing, and having been out of the running for the title last season, Chawinga may just prove to be the difference between where they were and where they want to be this season.

2. Ajara Nchout Njoya, Inter Milan

Cameroon's Nchout Njoya continues to drive Inter Milan forward alongside Chawinga. She scored a brace in the 6-1 win over Pomigliano to get off the mark for the new league season, having netted eight times in 18 Serie A appearances last term.

In between the two campaigns, she scored against Tunisia and Botswana at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and her consistency ensures she remains near the top of our list.

3. Uchenna Kanu, Tigres UANL

Kanu continued her fantastic goalscoring form in Mexico's Liga MX Femenil, scoring the opener for Tigres in the 5-1 thrashing of Atlético San Luis.

The Super Falcons striker has scored six goals in 11 appearances in this year's Apertura. Tigres are third in the league at the time of writing, four points behind leaders Deportivo Guadalajara.

4. Racheal Kundananji, Madrid CFF

Copper Queens forward Kundananji has got off to a superb start at her new club, which she recently joined from Eibar.

Kundananji was on the scoresheet twice as Madrid beat Levante Las Planas 3-1, coming off the bench at the start of the second half and turning the game on its head as Madrid came back from behind.

In total, she has now scored seven goals in her last six Primera Iberdrola appearances.

5. Barbra Banda, Shanghai Shengli

Banda was controversially denied a chance to represent Zambia throughout the course of their WAFCON run, but continues to impress and show that she is undeterred in her pursuit of greatness.

She scored a whopping 10 goals at the COSAFA Women's Championship as the Copper Queens avenged their WAFCON semi-final defeat to Banyana Banyana, beating them 1-0 in the final of this tournament to be crowned Southern African champions.

Banda, who scored back-to-back hat-tricks at last year's Olympics, has proven to potential suitors that despite all the noise surrounding her, she can continue to perform at an elite level.

6. Rosemonde Kouassi, Fleury 91

Ivorian forward Kouassi is rapidly turning into one of Africa's players to watch and continues to bang goals in for Fleury 91 at an impressive rate.

Kouassi, who scored six times in 833 minutes of top flight football last season, netted twice in the 3-0 win over Guingamp and scored again in the 1-1 draw with Paris FC, their rivals for UEFA Women's Champions League qualification.

There was, however, a reminder that Kouassi is still rough around the edges, as she was sent off in the Paris clash, collecting two bookings.

7. Refiloe Jane, Sassuolo

WAFCON-winning South Africa captain Jane got on the scoresheet for the first time for her new club, netting in a 3-1 defeat to her former club, AC Milan.

Jane, who was the on-field captain from midfield for Banyana Banyana due to squad captain Janine van Wyk no longer being a starter, also played the full match in Sassuolo's impressive 1-1 draw with defending champions Juventus -- an impressive feat, as Inter are the only other team to take points off Juve this season so far.

8. Jermaine Seoposenwe, FC Juárez

Seoposenwe has continued her fine form for a resurgent FC Juárez, who have won two of their last three league matches at the time of writing, ahead of their clash with Pachuca, and now sit 11th in the Liga MX table.

The Banyana Banyana forward was brought into the squad off the back of a string of tough results and has helped revive their fortunes. Seoposenwe netted twice in the 3-0 win over Necaxa and has now scored three goals in six league appearances for the club.

9. Asisat Oshoala, Barcelona

Oshoala has been struggling with injuries over the course of 2022, but returned to action for Barcelona in September and reminded the defending Primera Iberdrola champions of her quality.

Oshoala scored in Barcelona's 4-1 win over Villarreal and they look set to continue as the dominant force in Spanish women's football.

10. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC

Nnadozie has started the new season well for Champions League-chasing Paris FC, picking up where she left off at the end of the last campaign.

The 21-year-old kept clean sheets against Rodez and Le Havre in the French top flight in September, also playing in the 1-1 draw with Fleury 91. Nnadozie has already started October well, with a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Dijon.

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