In the world of football, women have been making significant strides and impacting the sport in various ways.
From players and coaches to administrators and match officials, these women have been breaking barriers and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
As we mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we take a look at 10 women who have been influencing football over the last 12 months.
ASISAT OSHOALA
Oshoala has been the pinnacle of African women’s football over the last few years. Last year, the Super Falcons forward was crowned the CAF African Women’s Footballer of the Year for the record-breaking fifth time. It was the first time a footballer, male or female, had won Africa’s most coveted individual award that many times.
The Barcelona Femeni striker leads the Golden Boot race in the Spanish top flight with 19 goals. A tally of 20 league goals last season was enough for her to win it.
GRACE CHANDA
Barbara Banda’s unfortunate exclusion from the 2022 Women’s AFCON meant Grace Chanda had to take over the talismanic duties for the Copper Queens. And the diminutive playmaker did not disappoint. She was a key figure for the Zambian women’s team that made a historic run to the semifinals of the competition. The Copper Queens secured a place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup alongside the bronze medal.
Chanda’s heroic exploits did not go unnoticed, as she made it into the top three of the CAF African Women’s Football of the Year rankings.
ALEX PUTELLAS
Putellas has continued to make history in the women’s game. Her jaw-dropping collection of accolades is second to none. Last year, the Spaniard became the first female footballer to win the Ballon d’Or award twice.
The creative genius also boasts two UEFA Women’s Player of the Year awards and back-to-back FIFA The Best awards.
At 29, she continues to move higher up the list of the greatest female footballers of all time.
SALIMA MUKANSANGA AND CO.
Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga became one of the first three women to officiate at a FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar last year. She wrote her name in the history books alongside France’s Stéphanie Frappart and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita.
Earlier that year, Mukansanga became the first woman to officiate at a men’s AFCON. She oversaw Zimbabwe’s 2-1 victory against Guinea in Group B.
RACHAEL KUNDANANJI
The Copper Queens forward has been a force to be reckoned with in the Spanish Women’s League this season. Kundananji has netted an impressive 13 goals in 19 outings, scoring a goal every 104 minutes.
The Zambian women’s national team will bank on her scoring touch at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The industrious forward will partner with Madrid CF teammate Grace Chanda for the Copper Queens in the summer.
TABITHA CHAWINGA
Chawinga continues to make Malawi and the African continent proud every time she steps on the pitch. The Inter Milan striker has terrified defenses across Italy this season. The Malawian forward has a ridiculous record of 16 goals in only 15 league games in her first season at the club.
Her quick adaptation to a new league may be compared to that of Norwegian center Erling Haaland in the Premier League.
SARINA WIEGMAN
In the summer of 2022, Sarina Wiegman finally answered the “It’s Coming Home” slogan when she landed England’s first major title since 1966. It was not for the men’s football team, whose wait continues, but for the England women’s football team. The Three Lionesses defeated Germany 2-1 at Wembley Stadium last year. This was Wiegmann’s second triumph in Europe, as she also led her home country the Netherlands to the 2017 UEFA Euro title.
Her achievement was recognized at the 2022 FIFA “The Best” awards, where she was named the FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year.
DESIREE ELLIS
South African gaffer Desiree Ellis inspired the Banyana Banyana to a memorable Women’s African Cup of Nations title. Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea were the only sides to have won the title over the years before Ellis broke the West African duopoly.
The Banyanya Banyanya defeated the hosts Morocco 2-1 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat.
In 2022, Ellis secured her third consecutive CAF African Women’s Coach of the Year crown on July 21st in Morocco.
BETH MEAD
Arsenal’s Beth Mead was the star of the show at the UEFA Women’s European Championship last summer. The English forward netted six goals for the Three Lionesses in the tournament, a tally only matched by Germany striker Alex Pop. Unfortunately, the latter was unavailable for the much-awaited showdown between the pair in the final. And Germany missed their talisman Alex Pop on the night as they lost to Beth Mead’s England.
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Mead was awarded the Grifols Topscorer award for having five assists more than Alex Pop despite both being level on goals.
WOMEN’S DAY WISH
Happy Women’s Day to all the incredible women out there! Your strength, resilience, and determination inspire us all. Today and every day, let’s celebrate the amazing contributions that women make to our world.
