Malawi Women’s National Football Team and French top side Paris Saint Germain (PSG) star striker Tabitha Chawinga continues to earn recognition for her five star performances, with Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) nominating her for the inaugural Cosafa Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
Cosafa released the list of the nominees Thursday ahead of the gala awards slated for April 19 in Durban, South Africa.
Tabitha impressed at Italian giants Inter Milan Women last year and is now performing very well for PSG.
To win the award, she has to do away with strong competition from the Zambia duo of Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji who had a good year for both country and club.
Tabitha has been nominated for the award after writing her own piece of history in the Italian Serie A women where she became the first female African footballer to win the golden boot award in the European country after scoring 23 goals in 25 matches for Inter Women.
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The Malawian, who is on another loan spell at PSG from Chinese champions Wuhan Jiangda, has lived up to expectations in France, scoring for fun in all competitions.
She currently leads the goal scorers’ chart in the French Feminine League with 17 goals, five above Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg of Olympic Lyonnais.
Tabitha has also scored four goals in the Uefa Women’s Champions League this season.
In an interview Thursday, Tabitha described the nomination as an honour.
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“I am happy that a lot of people are recognising my achievement. I am therefore motivated and will continue to work extra hard to achieve more,’’ she said.
Banda has been excellent for Zambia as well as her former club Shanghai Shengli in China whereas Kundananji scored 28 goals for Madrid FC and eight for Zambia.
Scorchers goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo has been nominated for the goalkeeper of the year award whereas Leticia Chinyamula and Rose Kabzere have made the cut for the women’s promising player of the year award.
However, Tabitha’s younger sister Temwa has failed to make the cut for the awards despite having a good season for both country and club.
Temwa was named the world’s overall best striker after scoring 63 goals for both club and country.
She also won three golden boot awards in China as Wuhan clinched two cups and successfully defended the league.
Temwa also lifted the player of the tournament award as well as the top goal scorer accolade at the 2023 Cosafa Women’s Championship where her nine goals helped Malawi to become champions.
She is now on loan at Kansas City in the United States.
National Women’s Football Association Chairperson Adellaide Migogo hailed Tabitha and other Malawian players for the nomination.
“I wish all our players the best of luck. The nominations are indicative of Malawi’s talent in women’s football,” Migogo said.
