The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicking off in Australia and New Zealand on July 20 is sure to produce some outstanding players who will either lead their teams to glory or stand out on their own as star performers.

The African continent will be represented by four teams as perennial participants. The Super Falcons of Nigeria will be joined by South Africa, Morocco and Zambia following the expansion of the tournament from 24 to 32 teams by FIFA, all hoping to break the quarter final jinx which was achieved by Nigeria.

Each of the four African teams has some players who will hope to turn up at the tournament both for their teams and for themselves.

Africa News Watch takes a look at the potential standout player in each of the African teams.

Nigeria – Asisat Oshoala

The Nigerian Super Falcons is blessed with the talented Barcelona forward, Asisat Oshoala, who has been a key figure both for club and country.

Oshoala has been in super form for Barcelona in recent years, scoring 20 goals and above in each of the past four seasons. She is unarguably the most impactful player in the Nigerian team at the moment, and for good reasons too. When she is in her element, she has the momentum to singlehandedly turn the tide of a game.

Oshoala burst onto the international scene in 2014 when she emerged top scorer and best player at the Under-20 World Cup, and since then, the former FC Robo of Lagos youngster has gone on to become one of the best players in Africa, winning the best female footballer award on five consecutive occasions.

She has also led Nigeria to three Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), ending as player of the tournament at two of the tournaments.

On her day, Oshoala is a thorn in the flesh of opposing defenders, and her fellow citizens will be hoping she can turn it up at the world cup.

Zambia – Barbra Banda

Whatever Asisat Oshoala brings to the Super Falcons, Barbra Banda can equally bring to the Chipolopolo Queens.

Banda, who missed the 2022 WAFCON due to a gender eligibility row, bounced back to show her importance in the Zambian team with 10 goals in five games for Zambia.

The 23-year-old Banda is presently one of the most exciting football talents in Africa after initially announcing herself to the world in 2021 when she netted back-to-back hat-tricks at the Olympics, thus becoming the first player to do so in the history of the event.

The Zambian captain has all it takes to propel the team to greater heights with her frightening speed, dribbling skills and eye for goals.

With strike partner, Racheal Kundananji with whom she has formed a formidable partnership, Banda is set for the top at the women mundial.

South Africa – Refiloe Jane

In a team bubbling with technically gifted players, Refiloe Jane stands out as one to watch in the Banyana Banyana team as they head into the World Cup.

Jane, a deep-lying midfield grafter will be central to anything coach Desiree Ellis will achieve at the tournament as almost everything the team does passes through the Sassuolo of Italy playmaker.

Jane caught the eyes of the football world at the WAFCON in Morocco where she showed the stuff of a star player.

With a terrific passing range and ability to control the tempo of matches from deep, Jane allows the South African attacking line to flourish and play with ease.

She made her competitive debut at the 2012 Olympics and has featured for South Africa in every major tournament since, racking up over 100 caps.

Jane will also be in familiar territory as she sighed her first professional contract with W League side, Canberra United in 2019 before moving to Italy.

Morocco – Ghizlane Chebbak

Moroccan captain, Ghizlane Chebbak is one player who has the potential of standing out at the 2023 Women’s World Cup after she led Morocco to a historic run to the 2022 WAFCON final, and clinching a World Cup qualification in the process.

Pundits believe the Atlas Lionesses have what it takes to replicate the feat achieved by their male counterparts who became the first African country to reach the semi final of a World Cup in Qatar.

Chebbak was central to the team’s brilliant performance at the WAFCON where they went to the final before losing to South Africa.

The daughter of former men’s international, Larbi Chebbak who was a Cup of Nations winner in 1976, and now Atlas Lionesses captain, Ghizlane is the player to watch in the Moroccan team after ending the WAFCON as both joint top scorer and player of the tournament.