Nigerian forward Esther Okoronkwo has once again captured headlines after being officially named AFC Toronto’s Player of the Month for May!

This exciting news comes after a standout month where her impressive goal-scoring prowess lit up the pitch, Footballrover reports.

However, even the brightest stars face challenges, and a recent match saw her team endure a surprising home defeat, leaving fans with mixed emotions about her incredible rise and current hurdle.

Esther Okoronkwo’s stellar May: A Player of the Month performance

During May, Okoronkwo was in top form, scoring three crucial goals in just four games for Marko Milanovic’s AFC Toronto.

Her attacking brilliance was clear, as she netted two goals against Calgary Wild FC and one against Montreal.

The win over Calgary was particularly special, marking Montreal’s first victory in the Northern Super League.

Okoronkwo’s dedication is clear enough in her words as she told the club’s media. that she needs to have the same attitude and mentality for every game, always treating each one the same.

She added that ultimately, they want to win, and she always maintains the mentality of giving her best on the field, working as hard as she could, and letting everything work out.

Okoronkwo beamed as she accepted her trophy after the match, saying,

“It feels good. It feels good. Lucky. I mean, obviously it wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates. So, as much as I won that, it’s also with them. To them as well.”

“This is a good league. And it’s only going to get better. More talent will come, more eyes will be on it. If you’re mentioning women’s leagues in the future, the Canadian league will be right up there,” she added.

Having joined AFC Toronto in February 2025 from Chinese club Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue, her quick impact has seen her rise as a key player.

From Player of the Month to pitch setback

Despite her individual brilliance as the star of the month, the recent match against Ottawa Rapid FC brought a harsh reality check.

Esther Okoronkwo, starting the game, could only watch as AFC Toronto suffered a disappointing 0-4 home defeat in the Canada Northern Super League women’s regular season.

She was substituted in the 66th minute, with Jade Kovacevic taking her place. On the other side, her compatriot, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, also featured for the winning Ottawa team, playing just eight minutes.

Ottawa Rapid FC delivered a truly dominant performance. Delaney Baie Pridham was unstoppable, scoring in the 2nd, 20th, and 60th minutes to complete a hat-trick.

Stella Downing also contributed with a goal in the 27th minute to cap off a comprehensive victory for Ottawa.

Like this post?
We’d be delighted to hear from you. Please leave a comment in the box below!

Last Updated on June 8, 2025 1:02 pm by Sir Kris