By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria and Everton midfielder, Toni Payne, has expressed her delight after being nominated for the English Women’s Super League (WSL) Player of the Month for February.
Payne is one of five standout players selected for the prestigious award, marking her first-ever nomination for an individual honour in the league.
The 27-year-old Super Falcons attacker shared her excitement about the recognition, calling it a reflection of her growth in the league and at Everton.
“It definitely feels good. You know, it’s my first time in the league and the WSL,” Payne told Everton’s official website.
“I definitely knew it was going to be a struggle in the beginning, but I think I’m finally catching my stride here.”
Payne’s impressive performances in February, which saw her register two assists in three league appearances, played a key role in earning her the nomination.
The Nigeria international joined Everton on a free transfer last summer and is now reaping the rewards of her hard work.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
