In the last part of the top performers series, ABIODUN ADEWALE spotlights the best female Nigerian players abroad in the 2024/25 campaign
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC)
Arguably, the most influential figure at the national team level, Nnadozie has continued to raise her profile at the club level as well, even as she bows out of Paris FC.
In her last season with the French club, the goalkeeper was at the heart of Paris FC’s historic victory at Stade de l’Épopée in Calais, where she saved two penalties in a dramatic 5–4 shootout win against rivals PSG after a goalless draw in regulation time to hand the club their first major trophy in nearly two decades.
The 24-year-old made 19 appearances in the French Women’s top-flight last season, keeping 10 clean sheets and recording a 78.1 per cent save rate.
The two-time CAF goalkeeper of the year stands tall among her teammates abroad as the best Nigerian player in the just-concluded season.
Christy Ucheibe (Benfica)
Another season, another set of titles for Ucheibe at Benfica.
The 24-year-old midfielder was instrumental for Benfica again as they won the Campeonato Nacional (league) and the Taça da Liga (cup title) – sealing both titles for the fifth time.
Ucheibe featured 12 times for the Portuguese women’s champions, scoring two goals and one assist as they amassed 62 points in the league, while she also played three times in their cup triumph, scoring one goal in the process. She also played in two UEFA Women’s Champions League games.
The Super Falcons midfielder has been part of Benfica’s success since joining them in 2020.
Rinsola Babajide (Tenerife)
In her second season with Tenerife in the Spanish women’s topflight, Babajide has reached a new height, hitting double figures of goals and also contributing a decent number of assists.
Babajide scored 10 goals plus five assists, powering her club to sixth place in the La Liga Femenina.
Her goal contributions (10 goals and five assists) represent 37.5 per cent of the club’s tally (40) for the season.
She also finished joint 10th in the scorers’ chart after making 26 appearances.
Gift Monday (Tenerife – half season)
Although now in the USA’s NWSL, Monday did enough in her half-season with Tenerife to earn a spot among the top performers.
Before making a surprise move to the Washington Spirit in January, Monday had scored 10 goals in 19 appearances for Tenerife. It was enough to earn her the joint top scorer spot at the club with Rinsola Babajide.
Jennifer Echegini (PSG)
It was a debut season to remember for Echegini in the colours of PSG.
Although they lost the league and the cup titles to Lyon and PSG, respectively, the forward had a decent campaign with seven goals and four assists in 18 league games. She also scored two goals in four cup games, taking her total tally to nine goals and four assists in 22 games across all competitions.
The 24-year-old midfielder joined PSG from Juventus last season.
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico)
The first-ever winner of the Spanish Women’s topflight Player of The Month Award, Ajibade started the just-concluded season in great shape but was hampered by injury.
In what was also her last campaign with Atletico Women, the Super Falcons captain ended the season with seven goals and three assists in 22 games as they finished third on the table behind Real Madrid (second) and Barcelona (champions).
Honourable mentions
After moving from Sevilla to Everton, Toni Payne struggled to find her feet in England, but she ended the season with one goal and five assists.
Falcons defender, Tosin Demehin, also switched from Stade Reims to Galatasaray, but there are no available stats to show her influence for the Turkish club.
National team returnee, Francisca Ordega, also made a career-boosting switch to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, where she teamed up with defender Ashleigh Plumptre.
