Super Falcons’ Asisat Oshoala and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie have been selected as Nigeria dominates the shortlist for the 2023 CAF Women’s Award.
The continent’s governing body unveiled the list of nominees on Tuesday afternoon, featuring 12 Nigerian players, the Super Falcons, and their coach Wandy Waldrum.
Oshoala, a Barcelona Femeni player, secured the treble, including the Champions League with the Spanish giants, positioning herself to potentially claim a record-extending sixth CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award. As the current holder, she clinched her fifth accolade, surpassing the record held by compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha. Oshoala was also a nominee for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
In addition to Oshoala, other Nigerian contenders for the Player of the Year include Nnadozie, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale, Toni Payne, and Uchenna Kanu.
Goalkeeper Nnadozie is in the running for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Waldrum received a nomination in the Coach of the Year category.
Nigeria has further representation in the Young Player of the Year category, with Deborah Abiodun, Esther Ajakaye, and Oluwatosin Demehin making the list.
The Super Falcons are also vying for the Team of the Year Prize following their impressive performance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
Earlier this year, Victor Osimhen was nominated in the male category and is anticipated to be the first Nigerian since 1999 to clinch the Player of the Year award. The CAF awards ceremony for this year is scheduled to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 11, 2023.
CAF 2023 Women’s Player of the Year Nominees
1. Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon, Internazionale Milano)
2. Evelyn Badu (Ghana, Avaldnes)
3. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, Paris Saint-Germain)
4. Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Wuhan Jiangda)
5. Anissa Lahmari (Morocco, Levante Las Planas)
6. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
7. Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)
8. Ibtissam Jraidi (Morocco, AS FAR/Al Ahli)
9. Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
10. Zenatha Coleman (Namibia, Fenerbahce)
11. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
12. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
13. Christy Ucheibe (Nigeria, Benfica)
14. Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria, Alaves/Pachuca)
15. Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria, Atletico Madrid)
16. Toni Payne (Nigeria, Sevilla)
17. Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria, Tigres/Racing Louisville)
18. Ndeye Awa Diakhaté (Senegal, Olympique de Marseille)
19. Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
20. Hilda Magaia (South Africa, Sejong Sportstoto)
21. Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa, Juarez/Monterrey)
22. Linda Motlhalo (South Africa, Glasgow City)
23. Refiloe Jane (South Africa, Sassuolo)
24. Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
25. Afi Sabine Woedikou (Togo, Strasbourg/Nantes)
26. Sabrina Ellouzi (Tunisia, Excelsior)
27. Fazila Ikwaput (Uganda, Kampala Queens)
28. Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)
29. Grace Chanda (Zambia, Madrid CFF)
30. Rachael Kundananji (Zambia, Madrid CFF)
2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees
1. Ange Bawou (Cameroon, Bayelsa Queens/ BIIK-Shymkent)
2. Dolores Hernandez Masongo (Equatorial Guinea, Huracanes)
3. Imane Abdelahad (Morocco, SC Casablanca)
4. Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
5. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
6. Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
7. Kaylin Swart (South Africa, JVW)
8. Najiat Abass Idrisa (Tanzania, JKT Queens)
9. Catherine Musonda (Zambia, Tomiris Turan)
10. Cynthia Shongwe (Zimbabwe, Harare City)
2023 CAF Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
1. Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)
2. N’Guessan Nadege Koffi (Cote d’Ivoire, SC Casablanca)
3. Elena Oyana (Equatorial Guinea, Huracanes)
4. Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
5. Tracy Twum (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
6. Oumou Kone (Mali, AS Mande)
7. Aziza Rabbah (Morocco, AS FAR)
8. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
9. Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)
10. Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
CAF Women’s 2023 Young Player of the Year
1. Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
2. Mary Amponsah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
3. Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
4. Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburg Panthers)
5. Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Nigeria, Delta Queens)
6. Oluwatosin Demehin (Nigeria, Stade Reims)
7. Hapsatou Malado Diallo (Senegal, USPA/Eibar)
8. Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa, University of Johannesburg FC)
9. Winifreda Gerald (Tanzania, JKT Queens)
10. Fauzia Najjemba (Uganda, Dynamo Moscow)
CAF 2023 Women’s Coach of the Year
1. Nana Joe Adarkwa (Ampem Darkoa)
2. Lovemore Fazili (Malawi)
3. Mehdi El Qaichouri (SC Casablanca)
4. Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR)
5. Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
6. Randy Waldrum (Nigeria)
7. Mame Moussa Cisse (Senegal)
8. Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
9. Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns)
10. Esther Chabruma (JKT Queens)
CAF 2023 Women National Team of the Year
1. Burkina Faso
2. Burundi
3. Ghana
4. Malawi
5. Morocco
6. Nigeria
7. Senegal
8. South Africa
9. Tanzania
10. Zambia
Club of the Year (Women)
1. Athletico d’Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)
2. Huracanes (Equatorial Guinea)
3. Ampem Darkoa (Ghana)
4. AS Mande (Mali)
5. AS FAR (Morocco)
6. SC Casablanca (Morocco)
7. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
8. JKT Queens (Tanzania)