CAF Releases Final Nominees

CAF has released the shortlists for the CAF Awards 2023 women’s categories with four Nigerian players making the final list. The final ten player shortlists for the Player of the Year category in the competition for the individual honor were revealed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) today Monday as the prospective winner scheduled to be announced 11th December in Morocco. There are five nominees for each of the other categories such as Club of the Year, National Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, and Goalkeeper of the Year.

The ultimate winner of each category will be determined by votes cast by a voting panel comprised of CAF Technical Committee members, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and Captains of Member Associations, and teams participating in the group stages of the Interclub tournaments. The Awards Gala will be held on Monday, December 11, 2023, at the Movenpick Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have made the five-team shortlist for the Team of the Year category at the 2023 CAF Awards. Though they failed to impress at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Falcons improved this year. CAF has nominated the Super Falcons as one of five teams in the Female Team Of The Year Award category.

Nnadozie is included in the final 5-woman list for goalie of the year (Women), while Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum, whose future has been in doubt since the last World Cup in Australia/New Zealand in 2023, is nominated for coach of the year in the women’s division. Below are the nominees for each category.

Player of the Year (Women)

1. Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon, Internazionale Milano)

2. Anissa Lahmari (Morocco, Levante Las Planas)

3. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

4. Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)

5. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)

6. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

7. Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

8. Hilda Magaia (South Africa, Sejong Sportstoto)

9. Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)

10. Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)

1. Imane Abdelahad (Morocco, SC Casablanca)

2. Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)

3. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

4. Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

5. Kaylin Swart (South Africa, JVW)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women)

1. Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)

2. Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)

3. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

4. Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)

5. Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Young Player of the Year (not more than 21 years)

1. Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)

2. Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)

3. Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburg Panthers)

4. Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Nigeria, Delta Queens)

5. Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa, University of Johannesburg FC)

Coach of the Year (Women)

1. Mehdi El Qaichouri (SC Casablanca)

2. Reynald Pedros (Morocco)

3. Randy Waldrum (Nigeria)

4. Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

5. Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns)

National Team of the Year (Women)

1. Morocco

2. Nigeria

3. Senegal

4. South Africa

5. Zambia

Club of the Year (Women)

1. Ampem Darkoa (Ghana)

2. AS FAR (Morocco)

3. SC Casablanca (Morocco)

4. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

5. JKT Queens (Tanzania)