May proved a standout month for several African women’s stars, according to the form-based African Women’s Power Rankings. Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga returned from a lengthy injury layoff to produce a string of decisive performances for the Kansas City Current, including a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Chicago Stars and a two-goal display in a 3-0 win at Houston Dash.
Chawinga also contributed a goal and an assist in a 3-1 triumph over Portland Thorns and scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Boston Legacy, all in May, according to the rankings.
Zambia captain Barbra Banda continued to lead the NWSL scoring race, with 11 goals in 12 appearances. Banda began the month with a brace in a 4-2 loss to Washington Spirit, supplied the winner in a 1-0 result over North Carolina Courage, and added two goals plus an assist in a 3-1 victory against Bay FC, the rankings noted.
In France, Tabitha Chawinga starred for OL Lyonnes, scoring twice against former club Paris Saint-Germain as Lyon routed PSG 5-0 in the Première Ligue playoff final. Those opening goals helped Lyon secure a 19th French league title; the club had also clinched the Coupe de France earlier in the month, according to the rankings.
Defensively, Nigeria centre-back Shukurat Oladipo stood out for AS Roma, completing five consecutive starts without conceding, four of them in May, as Roma secured a Serie A and Coppa Italia double. Oladipo played the full match in the cup final, won 1-0 with Manuela Giugliano’s 80th-minute strike, the rankings reported.
Other notable contributions included Rosemonde Kouassi’s two goals in Washington Spirit’s 5-3 CONCACAF Champions Cup final defeat to Club América; Merveille Kanjinga’s consolation strike in PSG’s 4-1 Coupe de France final loss and her season totals of 11 league goals and eight assists plus two goals and four assists in the cup; and Racheal Kundananji’s early winner for Bay FC in a 1-0 victory over San Diego Wave, the rankings added.
