April was a big month for African women's football, as it not only saw the NWSL season enter its second month with some star performances from Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga and Asisat Oshoala, but also UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals, with Malawi's Tabitha Chawinga carrying the flag.
Furthermore, Nigeria and Zambia booked their spots at the Paris Olympics, with Banda proving decisive there too. The Orlando Pride striker sits at the head of our women's power rankings this month, but competition is stiff at the top.
1. Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride
Banda, who came to the attention of many football fans due to her heroics at the Tokyo Olympics, where she scored back-to-back hat-tricks for Zambia, booked their place at the Paris edition with a brace in the qualifying tournament semi-final win over Morocco.
The Copper Queens had lost the first leg of the tie 2-1, but took the tie to extra time thanks to Banda's 39th minute strike in the second leg as she crept in behind the defence and around the goalkeeper to slot home.
The Orlando Pride striker hit the net again in stoppage time with a penalty slotted in the bottom corner at the end of the first half of extra time to book Zambia's place at the Olympics with a 2-0 win.
April also saw her introduced to her new club, for whom she signed from Shanghai Shengli on a four-year contract. She made her debut in a 1-0 win over the San Diego Wave, but it was in her first start against the Washington Spirit that she really showed NWSL fans what she can do.
Banda picked up an assist for Angelina's opener and then scored early in the second half to put her side 2-1 up, ultimately playing a vital role in sealing a 3-2 win.
2. Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current
The younger Chawinga among the two Malawi star sisters has been one of the best players in the NWSL this season and scored three crucial goals in April to take her tally for the NWSL season to date to four.
Chawinga's opener against Gotham FC led to the spoils being shared in a 1-1 draw and she then scored twice in a 5-2 win over Bay FC.
Her first six NWSL games have seen her notch up four goals and two assists and at the time of writing, she is one goal off being the league's top scorer, Sophia Smith.
3. Rasheedat Ajibade, Atlético Madrid
Ajibade is always one of the workhorses of any team she is on regardless of whether or not she gets on the scoresheet, but in April, she was in hot scoring form for both club and country.
She scored the winner from the penalty spot in Nigeria's 1-0 aggregate win over South Africa in the semi-finals of CAF Olympic qualifying to see the Super Falcons qualify alongside Zambia and at the expense of their longtime rivals.
Ajibade then scored in back-to-back games for Atlético Madrid -- a 5-1 win over Real Betis and then a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad.
Atlético are currently third in Liga F and on course for qualification for the UEFA Women's Champions League by the finest margins. They lead Levante by one point in the race for the final spot behind runaway leaders Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid.
4. Tabitha Chawinga, Paris Saint-Germain
April was a disappointing month for PSG, but Chawinga showed her big game mettle. After a goal against Guingamp in the league, she was on target in the UEFA Women's Champions League tie with Lyon, which ended in a 5-3 aggregate defeat.
Chawinga has scored in seven straight domestic matches for PSG and it was no surprise to see her honoured as the best player this season in the French Féminine Division 1 annual awards.
Six goals clear in the race for the league's top scorers' prize, she has certainly left her mark on French football since joining on loan from Wuhan Jianghan University, although she was not able to cap that off with a European Cup.
5. Uchenna Kanu, Racing Louisville
Kanu looks reinvigorated this season for Racing Louisville after a difficult campaign last term. In March, she got her season off to a superb start -- and in April, she followed up with yet another goal.
Capitalising on an assist from Lauren Milliet, Kanu scored the opener against Utah Royals, setting the tone for a 5-1 win. With four goals in six NWSL appearances this season at the time of writing, she is going to be vital as her side looks to make the playoffs.
6. Chiamaka Nnadozie, Paris FC
While Tabitha Chawinga scooped the prize for the league's best player, Nnadozie was honoured as the French Féminine Division 1's best goalkeeper this season.
In April, she contributed for club and country, keeping clean sheets home and away against Banyana Banyana and helping Paris FC secure a point in the derby against Chawinga's PSG.
- NWSL roundup: Barbra Banda carries Pride past Courage
7. Asisat Oshoala, Bay FC
Not quite up to the lethal goalscoring standards she set at Barcelona yet, Oshoala still managed to find the back of the net in Bay FC's 2-1 defeat to the San Diego Wave.
This is Bay's first season in the NWSL and they still have issues to resolve particularly in defence. Star forwards Oshoala and world record signing Racheal Kundananji have both had injury troubles in recent months and are new to playing together, but once they find their feet, they are likely to be as dangerous as any duo in the league.
8. Thembi Kgatlana, Tigres UANL
Kgatlana's brace for Tigres secured them a 3-1 win over Necaxa as she took her season tally in Liga MX Femenil to six goals in 15 appearances.
This made up in part for a disappointing month on the international front as Kgatlana and co were unable to break down Nigeria in a frustrating tie across 180 minutes.
9. Evelyn Badu, Fleury 91
Badu is one of the brightest prospects in African women's football and the 21-year-old Ghana international got off the mark in the French top flight for Fleury in April.
The midfielder not only scored the second goal in Fleury's 3-0 win over Bordeaux, but later got the assist for the cherry on the cake from Batcheba Louis.
10. Jermaine Seoposenwe, Monterrey
Seoposenwe has been every bit as influential for Monterrey as her Banyana teammate, Kgatlana, has been for Tigres this season.
In April, she got on the scoresheet in Monterrey's 7-0 drubbing of Atlético de San Luis. Sitting third in the table, they currently trail leaders UANL by five points in this season's Clausura at the time of writing.