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African players to watch …At 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 kicked off in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday after impressive opening ceremony and matches involving the two joint hosts.
In attendance are the finest nations as far as women football is concerned and are expected to entertain global soccer fans with their football dexterity.
Characteristically, attention is on the ‘heavyweights’ to run the show at the showpiece.
Countries like the United States of America (USA), Canada, Norway, Australia and Germany have always dominated to the latter stages of the tournament.
This is because others like China, Japan who were previously among the elites seem to have dropped in standards and would be joined by the likes of Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Portugal as some of the ‘outsiders’ that would want to upset the apple-cart.
But from a far corner, Africa is storming this World Cup with high hopes of at least make a representation at the medal zone of the competition.
Nigeria have been at the forefront of this audacious challenge but have failed in their bid.
But with the kind of investment made on the continent to develop the women’s game to rival the advanced nation, a major upset from Africa may come too soon, if not this particular event.
Once again, the Super Falcons would be at the forefront of this agenda and be ably supported by the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, an in-form Zambia team and Morocco, a new force in the game in Africa.
With additional files from Cafonline.com, the Spectator Sports takes a look at some of the African players expected to shine at the tournament to make the African agenda a huge success.
Chiamaka Nnadozie – Nigeria
Age: 22
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Paris FC (France)
The youngest goalkeeper at France 2019, Nnadozie has grown over the last four years.
After a stellar season with 11 clean sheets in 26 games to help Paris FC finish third and qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Nigerian’s shot-stopping abilities will be key. Standing at 1.8m, she dominates the area and is strong on crosses and set-pieces.
Andile Dlamini – South Africa
Age: 30
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Mamelodi Sundowns
Fresh off being named the best goalkeeper at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022, Dlamini heads to her second World Cup.
The Mamelodi Sundowns star is renowned for her one-on-one prowess thanks to speed off her line and positioning. Her reflexes and reach also make her a top shot-stopper.
Ireen Lungu – Zambia
Age: 25
Position: Midfielder
Club: BIIK Kazygurt (Kazakhstan)
A mobile midfielder, Lungu is aggressive on the ball and willing to take risks. She possesses excellent close control to retain possession in tight areas and draw fouls.
Going forward, she shows creativity and guile to dictate play from the middle third with precise short and long passing.
Ghizlane Chebbak – Morocco
Age: 32
Position: Midfielder
Club: AS FAR (Morocco)
Voted player of the tournament at the Women’s AFCON 2022, playmaker Chebbak has football pedigree as daughter of 1976 AFCON winner Larbi Chebbak.
Equally adept as a box-to-box runner or advanced playmaker, her vision, passing range and set-piece delivery make her a key cog for Morocco.
Fatima Tagnaout – Morocco
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Club: AS FAR
Pace and creativity define Tagnaout’s game. The versatile striker can play across the front line but prefers the left channel, cutting inside to shoot with her right foot.
Her acceleration and top speed make her a constant threat on the counter, while clever movement creates space.
Asisat Oshoala – Nigeria
Age: 28
Position: Forward
Club: Barcelona (Spain)
A five-time African Women’s Player of the Year, Oshoala thrives on the open field with her blistering speed.
Though she can finish anywhere, her heading, hold-up play and athleticism make her a well-rounded striker. Intelligent runs in behind defences are a specialty of the prolific finisher.
Barbra Banda – Zambia
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Club: Shanghai Shengli (China)
Banda announced herself on the world stage at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first women’s footballer to score back-to-back hat-tricks at an Olympics.
Her pace with the ball creates space to shoot from distance or attack defences directly.
Dropping deep to link play, she also provides key passes, while curling right-foot strikes echo Thierry Henry.
Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Club: Racing Louisville (USA)
After missing most of the Women’s AFCON 2022 through injury, Kgatlana is back fit to lead the line for Banyana Banyana.
Boasting superb technique and explosive acceleration, her low centre of gravity helps in duels. Strong aerial abilities and smart movement round out the skillset of the 5’4” striker.
Grace Chanda – Zambia
Age: 26
Position: Midfielder
Club: Madrid CFF (Spain)
At just 5’3″, Chanda is arguably the top central midfielder in Africa currently.
The Copper Queens captain dictates play with short and long passing, while also taking on defenders.
To unsettle opponents, she frequently combines with the right back. Chanda’s left-footed shooting stands out for its power and swerve, allowing her to beat goalkeepers regularly.
Her set-piece delivery is equally dangerous. Defensively, she displays intelligence in cutting off passing lanes.
Chanda’s vision, creativity and well-rounded game make her the heartbeat of the Zambian midfield. Having spent her career with top Spanish clubs, the 26-year-old will arrive at the World Cup boasting valuable experience against elite European competition.
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
