While Victor Osimhen’s remarkable goal-scoring performance for Napoli has been widely celebrated, little attention has been given to Africa’s other golden boot winner in Italy.
Tabitha Chawinga, the 27-year-old striker from Malawi, netted an impressive 23 goals for Inter Milan Women, propelling her team to the playoffs in Serie A Femminile.
This African double achievement is unprecedented and has served as an inspiration for Chawinga. Expressing her goals, she stated, “My goal is to achieve for African people. They need to see there are women in this world that can play football like men.”
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Chawinga, currently on a season-long loan from Wuhan Jianghan University in China, notched up 16 goals during the regular season, helping Inter Milan secure a third-place league finish. In the subsequent play-offs, she added seven more goals, including a hat-trick against Fiorentina.
While her success may have received less attention than Osimhen’s, Chawinga remains unfazed. She acknowledges that women’s football still has a long way to go in gaining the same recognition as the men’s game. She sees Osimhen’s accomplishments as putting Africa on the map and considers herself an ambassador for the continent.
Chawinga hopes that her and Osimhen’s achievements will encourage European clubs to explore African talent, particularly among female players. She believes that investing in the development of football in Africa will elevate the sport on a global scale.
As Chawinga continues to make her mark in Serie A, she proudly represents Africa and looks forward to a future where the continent’s football prowess is recognized and celebrated worldwide.
