Barbra Banda continued her impressive form for the Orlando Pride in September even as the team continued to struggle for consistency towards the tail end of the NWSL regular season.
Elsewhere, Banyana Banyana stars Thembi Kgatlana and Linda Motlhalo shone over the past months for their respective clubs, while Nigeria U20 Women made up to some extent for the Super Falcons' recent struggles - leading to goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma achieving recognition in our form-based rankings.
1. Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride
September was a successful month for Banda, who not only picked up three goals and two assists in four NWSL games, but ensured her best moments came at decisive stages.
Banda netted the Pride's second goal and got the assist for Haley McCutcheon for their third in the 3-1 win over Houston Dash.
The striker then scored both of the Orlando Pride's goals in a 2-2 draw with Kansas City Current. Banda assisted Lizbeth Ovalle's goal in a 3-1 win over Bay FC - which saw fellow Zambia star Racheal Kundananji score for Banda's opponents.
2. Thembi Kgatlana, Tigres UANL
Kgatlana had already silenced critics of her recent performances with a superb Women's Afirca Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament in July and August, keeping Banyana Banyana in the race for 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying.
September was another excellent month for the Tigres striker as she scored four times in the 7-2 win over Toluca amid other impressive performances in Liga MX Femenil.
Earlier in September, Kgatlana had picked up an assist in the 3-0 win over Santos Laguna and scored twice in the 5-2 defeat to Club America.
3. Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current
After finishing September in seventh place in the NWSL and subsequently rising to fifth after the first weekend of October, the Current are on course for the playoffs, and Chawinga served reminders in September of why she will be vital for their chances of success.
Chawinga scored in the 2-2 draw with Banda's Orlando Pride, but saved her best performance of the month for last as she scored once and assisted once in the vital 4-1 win over Denver Summit.
As a result of that win, the Current headed into their last four regular season fixtures (against Bay FC, Utah Royals, Washington Spirit and Racing Louisville) on course for the playoffs, and subsequently began October by consolidating their position with a 5-1 win over Bay.
4. Jermaine Seoposenwe, Monterrey
Retired (and sorely missed) Banyana Banyana forward Seoposenwe continues her consistent form at club level and September saw her at the peak of her powers.
Seoposenwe scored twice in a 5-1 win over Toluca, once in a 3-2 win over Chivas Guadalajara, and once in a 10-0 drubbing of Necaxa in which she also provided an assist for Lucía García.
5. Racheal Kundananji, Bay FC
Zambia's Kundananji demonstrated her value as both a provider and scorer of goals in September, setting up Alexandra Pfeiffer for Bay's first goal in a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville before her goal in the defeat to Orlando Pride.
WAFCON 2026 did not go as planned for Kundananji and the Copper Queens, who suffered a group stage exit, with Nigeria and eventual finalists Malawi advancing in their place. However, the former world record signing appears to be back on track again.
6. Linda Motlhalo, Glasgow City
Banyana Banyana midfield maestro Motlhalo is not known primarily for goals, but she got three of them in September - netting twice in the 8-0 drubbing of Livingstone and once in the 4-1 win over Partick Thistle.
City are off to a mixed start to the season, finishing September in fifth place in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL 1), and subsequently rising to fourth after October began with a 3-1 win over Montrose. City have 14 points from seven matches.
7. Asisat Oshoala, Al Hilal
Six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year Oshoala scored four times in three September appearances for Al Hilal.
The 31-year-old - soon to be 32 - scored a crucial goal in the 2-1 win over Al-Ittihad, netted again in the 4-1 defeat to Al-Nassr, and then scored a brace in the 9-0 drubbing of Al-Ahli.
8. Uchenna Kanu, Cruz Azul
Yet another Nigeria forward, Kanu, made a decisive contribution in the 3-2 win over UNAM Pumas, scoring two goals in a decisive 15-minute cameo.
Kanu came on in the 75th minute with Cruz Azul trailing 2-1 and pulled them level immediately. Six minutes later, she profited from Alejandra Lomeli's assist to score what proved to be the winner.
9. Rasheedat Ajibade, Paris Saint-Germain
Ajibade scored for Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-0 win over Lens early in September. The Super Falcons skipper only served her cause further with a strong start to October - a goal in a 5-0 UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) win over Belgian side OH Leuven.
Nigeria teammate Jennifer Echegini started alongside her for both of PSG's UWCL matches to date (the other, besides the Leuven win, being the preceding 1-1 draw with Real Madrid).
10. Christiana Uzoma, Edo Queens
It is rare that a player at U20 level makes our monthly top 10 even though it is form-based, which does at times enable an outsider to make the cut.
Uzoma starred in goal during Nigeria's 3-0 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup round of 16 win over England, making several key saves - including from a Rachel Maltby penalty. The match was also notable for a superb goal from Tosin Rafiu.
Nigeria ultimately succumbed 1-0 to Colombia in the quarter-finals. However, after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in their history, the U20 Women's National Team has gone some way towards restoring the country's pride.
The UWCL, like the NWSL, is available to watch on ESPN Africa (DStv 218 and 219) and on Disney+ in South Africa.