Super Falcons and Paris FC shot-stopper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has been named in the final shortlist of five to battle for the prestigious CAF Women’s Player of the Year to be decided at the Palais des congrès de Marrakech, Morocco on December 16.
The Confederation of African Football(CAF) yesterday unveiled the top five nominees in each of the women’s categories at the upcoming 2024 CAF Awards with Nnadozie also listed for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Prize which she incidentally won with glee last year.
According to the continental soccer ruling body, the 2024 CAF Awards cover the period from January to October this year.
“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 a statement. “The CAF Goalkeeper of the Year category includes five exceptional shot-stoppers while the Interclub Player of the Year category highlights five standout performers who shone during continental competitions.”
For the prestigious CAF Women’s Player of the Year, Nnadozie will battle it out with Malawian ‘dynamic sisters’ Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga as well as Morrocan Sanaâ Mssoudy and Zambiam Barbra Banda.
Meanwhile, Falconets forward, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu also made the final cut in the Women’s Young Player of the Year category.
Okwuchukwu shone for the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
Nigerian champions Edo Queens that recently finished fourth at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, are also nominated for the Women’s Club of the Year.
The Super Falcons are also in contention for the Women’s National Team of the Year where they are set to fight it out against South Africa, Morocco, Zambia and Cameroon’s U-20 team.
Another Nigeria’s interest is that of Falconets ‘ Head Coach, Chris Danjuma , who made the final cut for the Coach of the Year Award.
According to CAF, 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.
Last year, Asisat Oshoala earned the title of CAF Women’s Player of the Year, and this year’s nominees will look to follow in her illustrious footsteps.
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)
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
