Nigeria’s Super Falcons and their stars headline the nominees for the 2025 CAF Awards, following an exceptional year marked by continental success and individual brilliance.
CAF unveiled the shortlist on Friday, with Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Esther Okoronkwo leading a strong Nigerian presence across multiple categories.
Ajibade, the Super Falcons captain, earned a nomination for African Player of the Year after a stellar Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where she was named Player of the Tournament and won three Woman of the Match awards.
The PSG forward played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s record-extending 10th WAFCON triumph, contributing a goal and two assists.
Okoronkwo, of AFC Toronto, joins her in the top category after scoring twice and setting up four more goals in Morocco, including a standout performance in the final.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, now with Brighton & Hove Albion, will aim for a third consecutive Goalkeeper of the Year title, having already claimed the honour in the past two editions.
The Super Falcons themselves have been shortlisted for National Team of the Year, while their coach, Justine Madugu, is among the contenders for Women’s Coach of the Year after guiding the side to continental glory.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, also feature prominently, with both the team and coach Bankole Olowookere nominated after an unbeaten World Cup qualifying campaign.
Their captain, Shakirat Moshood, made the final cut for CAF Young Player of the Year.
Completing Nigeria’s dominance, Bayelsa Queens, champions of the Nigerian Women’s Football League are nominated for Club of the Year, facing competition from the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns, ASFAR, TP Mazembe, and Gaborone United.
