By Nurudeen Obalola
Several Nigerian players and teams, including Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Super Falcons and Edo Queens, have been included in the top five shortlists of different categories of the 2024 CAF Awards.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the top five nominees in each of the women’s categories on Wednesday, with the awards ceremony set for December 16 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 2024 CAF Awards cover the period from January to October this year.
Nnadozie is shortlisted in two categories: the Women’s Player of the Year and the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, which she won last year.
In the Women’s Player of the Year category, the Super Falcons and Paris FC goalkeeper is up against sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco), and Barbra Banda (Zambia).
“This year’s nominees reflect the excellence in women’s football across the continent after their impressive performances at club and national team level,” CAF said.
In the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nnadozie is vying with Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo/TP Mazembe), Habiba Sabry (Egypt/FC Masar), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco/AS FAR) and Andile Dlamini (South Africa /Mamelodi Sundowns).
The Super Falcons are nominated in the Women’s National Team of the Year category, with Edo Queens in the running for Club of the Year.
Falconets head coach Chris Danjuma is in the shortlist for Coach of the Year, while Rivers Angels’ Chiamaka Okwuchukwu is up for Young Player of the Year.
The winners of each category will be determined through votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of Member Associations, as well as clubs participating in the group stages of Interclub competitions.
Full List of Nominees (in alphabetical order by Member Association):
Player of the Year (Women)
1. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais)
2. Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current)
3. Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)
4. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)
5. Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)
1. Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo / TP Mazembe)
2. Habiba Sabry (Egypt / FC Masar)
3. Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco / AS FAR)
4. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)
5. Andile Dlamini (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women)
1. Merveille Nanguji (DR Congo / TP Mazembe)
2. Lacho Flora Marta (DR Congo / TP Mazembe)
3. Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)
4. Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco / AS FAR)
5. Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)
Young Player of the Year (Women)
1. Habiba Sabry (Egypt / FC Masar)
2. Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)
3. Lina Mokhtar Jamai (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
4. Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Nigeria / Rivers Angels)
5. Nthabiseng Majiya (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Coach of the Year (Women)
1. Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
2. Ahmed Ramadan (FC Masar)
3. Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR)
4. Chris Danjuma (Nigeria U-20)
5. Thinasonke Mbuli (University of the Western Cape)
National Team of the Year (Women)
1. Cameroon U-20
2. Morocco
3. Nigeria
4. South Africa
5. Zambia
Club of the Year (Women)
1. TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
2. FC Masar (Egypt)
3. AS FAR (Morocco)
4. Edo Queens (Nigeria)
5. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
