Five-time winner and Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and four other members of the national women’s team, have been shortlisted among 30 players listed for the preliminary nominees of the CAF Female Player of the Year by the continental football ruling body.
CAF Tuesday unveiled the preliminary nominees for the various women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023 with Barcelona striker Oshoala, Atletico Madrid’s Ajibade and Paris FC goalie Nnadozie making the cut.
Other Super Falcons players that made the list of nominees include Christy Ucheibe (Benfica), Osinachi Ohale (Alaves/Pachuca), Toni Payne (Sevilla) and Uchenna Kanu (Tigres/Racing Louisville).
Also, Falconets’ stars Deborah Abiodun (Pittsburg Panthers) and Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Delta Queens) have been listed among the 10 nominees for the Young Player of the Year.
Super Falcons’ coach Randy Waldrum has been nominated for the coach of the year while Nigeria’s Super Falcons was also nominated for the National Team of the Year.
A distinguished panel made up of CAF Technical Experts, Legends, and selected media representatives selected the nominees, taking into consideration their performances at all levels from December 2022 to November 2023.
Just as in the men’s category, the best women’s goalkeeper will be rewarded for the first time to celebrate the heroic efforts of the shot-stoppers and Super Falcons’ Nnadozie topping the list of the 10 players nominated for the first-ever CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
In the other categories, 30 players will vie for the prestigious Player of the Year, which Nigeria’s Oshoala claimed for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
