Chijioke Gabriel
Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the senior women’s national team have been shortlisted for multiple categories in the 2025 CAF Awards, following a year of exceptional performances across African football.
The Confederation of African Football announced the women’s category nominees on Friday, with Nigerian players and teams featuring prominently. Ajibade, who led Nigeria to victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, is nominated for African Player of the Year. Her teammate Esther Okoronkwo, who was named Woman of the Match in the WAFCON final, also made the list.
Ajibade, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was crowned Player of the Tournament at WAFCON, where she scored once and provided two assists as the Falcons secured their record-extending 10th continental title. Okoronkwo, who plays for AFC Toronto, contributed two goals and four assists throughout the competition.
In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton & Hove Albion received her third consecutive nomination, having already won the award twice.
The Super Falcons are in contention for National Team of the Year, while the U-17 women’s team (the Flamingos) were also nominated for their unbeaten run during the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu and Flamingos’ coach Bankole Olowookere were both shortlisted for Coach of the Year. Flamingos captain Shakirat Moshood is among the finalists for Young Player of the Year.
Completing Nigeria’s strong presence at the awards, Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, earned a nomination for Club of the Year, competing against Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), ASFAR (Morocco), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), and Gaborone United (Botswana).
The 2025 CAF Awards will celebrate Africa’s football excellence across both men’s and women’s categories, with Nigeria once again positioned as a dominant force in women’s football.