African Stars Shine in NWSL: Tanzania and Cameroon Strikers Land in US Women's League on the Same Day

On Wednesday local time, the African presence in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) was strengthened once again. The Washington Spirit announced a transfer agreement with Tanzanian forward Clara Luhanga, while at the same time, the Denver Summit officially brought in Cameroonian striker Naomi Eto from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 21-year-old Tanzanian prospect previously played for Al Nassr, the Saudi league champions. Following her move to the Washington Spirit, the club now boasts seven African internationals, making it the team with the most African players in the NWSL. Luhanga signed a four-year contract with the team, extending through the 2029 season, with Washington paying Al Nassr an undisclosed transfer fee. Notably, she becomes the first player to represent Tanzania in NWSL history, adding attacking depth to the Spirit, who are currently fighting for a playoff spot and aiming to reach the final for a third consecutive time.

"Clara's addition brings exciting new energy to our attacking system," said James Hagen, Director of Sports at the Washington Spirit, in an interview. "Although she is young, she has already demonstrated a rich arsenal of offensive weapons and is fully capable of establishing herself here and achieving excellence."

Last season in the Saudi Women's Super League, Luhanga led the scoring charts with 24 goals, earning the Golden Boot, and scored a hat-trick in the Saudi Women's Super Cup final. During her three seasons with Al Nassr, she helped the team win the league title three times, along with the Saudi Women's Cup, the Saudi Women's Super Cup, and the 2026 WAFF Women's Club Championship. In an interview, the forward expressed enthusiasm for her new environment, noting that although she joined after the season had already begun, she was eager to contribute: "I'm incredibly excited to join the Washington Spirit and take on the challenge of the NWSL. The team is in a strong position right now, and I hope to provide my full support from this point through the playoffs. Go Spirit!"

Shortly after, the Denver Summit officially announced the signing of Eto from Paris Saint-Germain. The 21-year-old Cameroonian international won the African Women's Nations Cup with her national team this summer. She signed a contract with Denver valid through the 2027 season, with the club retaining the priority right to extend through 2028. Eto will officially join the team after obtaining her P-1 visa.

These two signings continue the trend of increasing African player representation in the NWSL year over year. Especially since the conclusion of the African Women's Nations Cup, the league now has 11 players with African national team caps. According to foreign media reports, fans across the African continent can watch NWSL matches through relevant broadcasting platforms.