- Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo has been recognised for her outstanding debut season with AFC Toronto, earning a spot in the Northern Super League Team of the Season.
- Okoronkwo, who was previously named the NSL's assist leader with seven assists and contributed eight goals in 19 appearances, is now set to help Toronto in the NSL play-offs.
Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo has been named in the Northern Super League’s inaugural Team of the Season, which was voted on by the league’s players.
The 28-year-old is one of four players representing the regular season table-toppers, AFC Toronto, who finished the campaign on 51 points.
She joins defender Colby Barnett, midfielder Emma Regan, and fellow forward Kaylee Hunter in the elite list.
The recognition is fitting for the dynamic Nigerian international, who has quickly established herself as a key figure in the Canadian league.
The Nigerian international, who was formerly on the books of AS Saint-Étienne in France, UD Tenerife in Spain, and Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue in China, signed with AFC Toronto in February 2025.
She immediately became a "club legend," scoring both goals in the team's first-ever victory against Calgary Wild FC on 1 May 2025. This season, she tallied 8 goals and led the league in assists with 7.
Your 2025 NSL Team of the Season 👏 as voted by the players. 🔥 NSL Awards, presented by @DoorDash
— Northern Super League (@NorthernSuperLg) October 28, 2025
---
Votre Équipe d'étoiles de la saison de la SLN 2025 🔥 Honneurs SLN, présentés par @DoorDash pic.twitter.com/hKoF9s1YQb
On the international front, She was instrumental in the Super Falcons' victory at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where she was the team's star player.
Okoronkwo delivered a stunning performance in the final against Morocco, converting a penalty and providing two crucial assists to secure Nigeria's record 10th WAFCON title.
Most recently, she increased her international goals tally, netting in last week's 2-0 win over Benin in the 2026 Women's AFCON qualifiers whilst also getting an assist in the return leg in Abeokuta on Tuesday night.
The other NSL players named in the team include the Golden Boot winner, Delaney Baie Pridham of Ottawa Rapid (18 goals), who joins defenders Jyllissa Harris and Olivia Scott and midfielder Lee Min-A from the runners-up side.
Goalkeeper Anika Toth of Halifax Tides, defender Stephanie Hill of the Montreal Roses, and midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard of the Calgary Wild complete the best XI.
AFC Toronto now prepares for the league’s first-ever play-offs, which start with the two-legged semi-finals.
Toronto will face the Montreal Roses in the first leg on Saturday, 1 November, before the return fixture on 8 November.
The NSL Final is scheduled for Saturday, 15 November, and will be held at Toronto’s BMO Field
Ejim Kaycee
Copyright FALCONS OBSERVER
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from falconsobserver.com