African women in Europe: Oshoala makes scoring return

Asisat Oshoala wasted no time in resuming normal service for Barcelona as she found the net on her first appearance back following a spell on the sidelines with injury.

The Nigerian took to the field at the weekend as a late substitute against Tenerife in the Primera Iberdrola. She needed less than 13 minutes to make her mark as the visitors cruised to a 7-0 victory.

This was also her 12th goal in 10 league appearances and is the Spanish topflight joint-topscorer with club teammates Lieke Martens and Alexia Putellas.

Here, CAFOnline.com reviews the African women stars who got off to flying starts in 2022 in Europe, including in the Cup competitions in the past week.

SPAIN

ASISAT OSHOALA (Barcelona)

The 28-year-old's return to the bench for the weekend was a huge boost for Nigeria and Barcelona, who had missed her extraordinary scoring touch since mid-November 2021. The forward was brought on in the 76th minute for Martens, with the visitors 6-0 up and she wrapped up the big win, marking the perfect return to first-team duties just seconds from full time.

RACHEAL KUNDANANJI [Eibar]

She was the heroine for Eibar as her maiden Primera Iberdrola goal of the season gave the visitors a 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano. Following her arrival from BIIK Kazygurt last October, the Zambian was handed her fourth start and she struck late to snatch the victory and end Eibar's seven-match winless streak.

FRANCE

ESTHER OKORONKWO[Saint-Etienne]

The US-born forward was on target for Saint-Etienne but her effort could not rescue her side from crashing out of the Coupe de France after a 7-2 defeat against Montpellier. Her latest goal is the Nigerian's fourth in all competitions for Saint-Etienne since joining from American club Lamar Lady Cardinals in September.

IMANE CHEBEL & ROSEMONDE KOUASSI [Fleury]

Algeria's Chebel and Cote d'Ivoire's Woedikou continued their impactful forms as Fleury thrashed Nice 3-0 in a Coupe de France tie. The 26-year-old Canadian-Algerian opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Ivorian starlet Kouassi netted the second goal in Fleury's passage to the Round of 16.

SABINE WOEDIKOU [Yzeure]

The Togolese shone for Yzeure as they edged Toulouse to the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France after a 5-4 win on penalties. The 27-year-old former AJ Auxerre woman cancelled the visitors' lead as her late strike forced the contest to penalties.

LINA KHELIF [Saint-Malo]

The French-born Algerian put up a fine display in Saint-Malo's 4-3 penalty shoot out loss to Le Harve in the Coupe de France. The 24-year-old midfielder, who arrived from Thonon-Evian last summer, gave the hosts the lead but her strike was not enough to deny the visitors a comeback and place in the Round of 16.

PORTUGAL

JERMAINE SEOPOSENWE [SC Braga]

The South African was at her best as SC Braga humiliated Ovarense 8-0 in the second round of the Taca de Portugal. The 28-yea-old Banyana Banyana star scored once and contributed five assists to ensure her Portuguese side's progression. She has now found the net seven times in all competitions this season.

TURKEY

MARIEM HOUIJ & RUTH KIPOYI [ALG Spor]

DR Congo's Ruth Kipoyi and Tunisia's Mariem Houij continued their incredible forms in the colours of ALG Spor as they thrashed Trabzonspor 4-0 in the Turkish topflight. Houij bagged a hat-trick to take her tally to 12 goals and Kipoyi netted her third goal of the season as ALG maintained their unbeaten start, with 10 points from four games.