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Nigeria will have no representative in the coveted Women’s Player of the Year category at the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, despite securing four nominations across three other categories.
CAF officially unveiled the nominee lists on Tuesday ahead of the prestigious awards ceremony scheduled to take place on December 7 in Lagos.
The omission of any Nigerian star from the flagship individual award comes as a significant blow to the nation’s footballing prestige. It follows a disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign, where the nine-time continental champions suffered a quarter-final exit after a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Cameroon.
Women’s Player of the Year Nominees
The 10-player shortlist for the Women’s Player of the Year features key figures from across the continent, heavily dominated by WAFCON champions Cameroon:
Algeria: Marine Dafeur
Cameroon: Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina, Monique Ngock
Ghana: Portia Boakye
Malawi: Tabitha Chawinga, Temwa Chawinga
Morocco: Hanane Aït El Haj
South Africa: Thembi Kgatlana
Zambia: Barbra Banda
Other Nominations for Nigeria
Despite missing out on the primary individual accolade, Nigerian football earned recognition across three other categories:
National Team of the Year: The Super Falcons were shortlisted alongside Algeria, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, and South Africa.
Goalkeeper of the Year: Edo Queens stopper Christiana Uzoma is Nigeria’s sole representative. She will contend with nine nominees, including Chloe N’Gazi (Algeria), Michaely Bihina (Cameroon), Cynthia Konlan (Ghana), Mercy Sikelo (Malawi), Fatoumata Karantao (Mali), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco), Adji Ndiaye (Senegal), Kaylin Swart (South Africa), and Hazel Nali (Zambia).
Young Player of the Year: Nigeria holds two spots on the shortlist with Oluwakemi Adegbuyi (Robo Queens / Flamingos) and Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei (Benfica / Falconets).
The continent’s top talent will gather in Lagos next month to celebrate the outstanding achievements in African football over the past year.
