RASHEEDAT AJIBADE NETS ANOTHER BRACE MAKING IT A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE BRACE FOR ATLETICO MADRID

Nigeria striker Rasheedat Ajibade maintained her fine scoring form for Atletico Madrid by grabbing her fourth consecutive brace in a 5-0 victory over Sevilla.

The Nigerian was handed her ninth start of the season in the Spanish Primera Iberdrola and she made her brace scoring mark in the space of five minutes to compound the woes of the visitors.

Her latest brace took her goal tally to nine in nine league starts and is now her team’s joint topscorer with Deyna Castellanos in the current campaign so far.

Here, CAFOnline.com, reviews the African women who shone for their various clubs in Europe in the past week, ahead of the final qualifying round for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2022.

SPAIN

RASHEEDAT AJIBADE (Atletico Madrid)

The 22-year-old provided a huge boost for Nigeria, who will take on Cote d’Ivoire in the two-legged doubleheader this week. The Nigerian netted the third and fourth goal of the match in the 32nd and 37th minutes to guarantee the big home win for Atletico.

ASISAT OSHOALA (Barcelona)

The Nigerian captain continued her incredible scoring run of form with her 19th league goal of the season, with Barcelona’s second against Athletic Bilbao. Earlier in the week, the 28-year-old entered into the Catalans’ history books as she marked her 100th appearance in all competitions, grabbing a brace to hit 79 goals. With 19 goals so far, Oshoala leads the golden boot race in the Spanish top-flight, with three goals above Madrid CFF’s Geyse and teammate Lieke Martens.

THEMBI KGATLANA (Atletico Madrid)

The South African star was on target despite Atletico Madrid bowed to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao. Kgatlana struck in the 24th minute to cancel the hosts an early lead but her effort was not enough to save them from an away defeat. Despite the loss, the 25-year-old scored her fourth goal in four starts and recovered her scoring boots ahead of Algeria showdown.

SWITZERLAND

JADE BOKO SAYO (Servette)

The Equatorial Guinea international recovered her scoring boots ahead of the African qualifiers doubleheader with Tunisia this week. The 35-year-old Spanish born forward scored her fourth goal of the season and Servette’s second goal of the day as they thrashed Lugano 3-0 to maintain their title defence quest.

ENGLAND

ASHLEIGH PLUMPTRE (Leicester City)

The 23-year-old broke her duck in the English top-flight in the colours of Leicester as they secured a 3-0 triumph over West Ham. The England-born centre back is set to make her senior debut with Nigeria against Cote d’Ivoire this week after 30 appearances for England at various youth levels. And she signed off to join the Super Falcons on high, with a fine header and clean sheet in her side’s third win of the season.SCOTLAND

ODE FULUTUDILU (Glasgow City)

The South African striker found the back of the net as Glasgow City defeated Celtic 2-0 to keep their title defence alive. The 32-year-old fired in the opener in the 13th minute as they silenced their visitors in the Glasgow derby at Petershill Park.

TURKEY

ZENATHA COLEMAN (Fenerbahce)

The Namibian star continued her fine start to life in Turkey following her recent move from Spain as she struck twice in Fenerbache’s 6-1 crushing of Karadeniz Ereglispor. Coleman required a goal in each half to see her side pill pressure on leaders Besiktas and notched five goals in two matches. With her fine form, the 28-year-old whose five goals helped Namibia see off Tanzania will be keen to lead her nation past Zambia.

DEBORAH STONE & GIFTY ASSIFUAH (Antalyaspor)

DR Congo’s Stone and Ghana’s Assifuah were huge bargains for Antalyaspor as their side secured a 4-1 away win at Kireçburnu. Stone opened the scoring in the fifth minute with her fourth of the season, while the Ghanaian forward grabbed her seventh goal of the season five minutes into the second half.

LETABO MADIBA [Fatih Vatanspor]

The South African forward did not disappoint in front of goal as Fatih Vatanspor thrash Amed 6-0 in the Turkish topflight match. After a 3-0 lead, Madiba struck in the 67th-minute strike to extend the hosts lead with her fourth goal of the season.

SARATOU TRAORE, BASSIRA TOURE & EMMANUEL MSIPA (Fatih Karagumruk)

Malian striking sisters and Zimbabwe’s Msipa were in breathtaking form for Fatih Karagumruk in an 8-1 massacre of Kayseri Genclerbirligi. The African trio stole the show as four goals from Saratou, a brace from Bassira and a goal from Msipa was all the visitors required to crush their hosts. The Malians, who are set to face Senegal, head into the break on a high alongside Msipa, who will aim to lead Zimbabwe past Botswana.

MARIEM HOUIJ & RUTH KIPOYI [ALG Spor]

Tunisia’s Houij and DR Congo’s Kipoyi added to their goal tallies for leaders ALG Spor in humiliated Ilkadim Belediyespor 6-0. Kipoyi netted her fifth of the season in the 61st minute after brace scoring Houij’s opener before she wrapped up the big win five minutes from time to accrue 14 goals in nine games.

ISRAEL

PEACE EFIH (Maccabi Kiryat Gat)

The Nigerian midfielder maintained her hot streak, scoring in her fourth consecutive match as Maccabi Kiryat Gat thrashed Bnot Netanya 3-0. The 21-year-old scored the first and second goals to ensure the Israeli champions open a four-point lead at the top of the table. She has now taken her tally to 10 goals in all competitions as she joins Nigeria camp for Cote d’ivoire clash.

YETUNDE ALUKO (Hapoel Marmorek)

The Nigerian forward grabbed her second brace of the season as Hapoel Marmorek defeated Bnot Netanya 3-1 earlier in the week. With five league goals this season, she will now hope to inspire the Super Falcons against Cote d’Ivoire this week.