KEY POINTS

• Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo nominated for African Player of the Year.

• Chiamaka Nnadozie eyes third consecutive CAF Goalkeeper of the Year title.

• Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Flamingos, and Bayelsa Queens also earn major nominations.

Nigeria has once again stamped its authority on African women’s football as its top talents feature prominently in the 2025 CAF Awards shortlist.

The Confederation of African Football announced the nominees on Friday, confirming Nigeria’s dominance across several categories after a remarkable year on and off the pitch.

Ajibade and Okoronkwo headline player nominations

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Esther Okoronkwo are both in contention for the African Player of the Year award following their standout performances at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Ajibade, who captained Nigeria to a record-extending 10th WAFCON title, was voted Player of the Tournament and named Woman of the Match in three of six games. The Paris Saint-Germain forward also registered one goal and two assists during the championship run.

Okoronkwo, who plays for AFC Toronto in Canada, contributed two goals and four assists throughout the tournament. She was named Woman of the Match in the final, sealing her status as one of Nigeria’s most creative forwards.

Nnadozie, Super Falcons, and Flamingos shine in 2025 CAF Awards

In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion has once again earned a nomination. The 24-year-old has won the title twice consecutively and is now bidding for her third straight win. Her consistency and commanding performances have been central to Nigeria’s defensive strength in recent tournaments.

The Super Falcons, led by coach Justine Madugu, are nominated for National Team of the Year after capturing another continental crown. Nigeria’s U-17 side, the Flamingos, also earned a nod for the same category following an unbeaten qualification campaign for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Madugu himself has been shortlisted for Women’s Coach of the Year, while Flamingos manager Bankole Olowookere joins the list for his success in building a talented and resilient youth team.

According to Punch, rising star Shakirat Moshood, captain of the Flamingos, has been named among the finalists for the CAF Young Player of the Year award, recognising her leadership and composure at youth level.

Completing Nigeria’s strong showing, Bayelsa Queens, winners of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, are nominated for Club of the Year. They face competition from South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s ASFAR, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, and Botswana’s Gaborone United.

The 2025 CAF Awards will celebrate not only individual excellence but also Nigeria’s collective progress in women’s football, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a powerhouse on the continent.