2026: Nigerians Missing In CAF Women’s Best Player List

NewsDesk –

Nigeria will have no representative in the Women’s Player of the Year category at the 2026 Confederation of African Football, CAF, Awards, despite securing four nominations across three other categories.

CAF unveiled the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with the Super Falcons, Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma and youngsters Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei making the shortlist.

The absence of a Nigerian in the prestigious individual category is a major setback, particularly following the Super Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON.

Nigeria exited the competition in the quarter-finals after a 1-0 defeat to eventual champions Cameroon, ending its hopes of retaining the continental title.

The 10 nominees for the Women’s Player of the Year award include Algeria’s Marine Dafeur; Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock; and Ghana’s Portia Boakye.

Others are Malawi’s Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, Morocco’s Hanane Aït El Haj, South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.

Cameroon, which defeated Nigeria in the WAFCON quarter-finals before winning the title, has three representatives in the individual award category.

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons are nominated for the Women’s National Team of the Year award alongside Algeria, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco and South Africa.

Uzoma is Nigeria’s sole representative in the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, where she will compete against nine other nominees.

They include Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi, Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina, Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan, Malawi’s Mercy Sikelo and Mali’s Fatoumata Karantao.

Others are Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye, South Africa’s Kaylin Swart and Zambia’s Hazel Nali.

Nigeria also has two nominees in the Women’s Young Player of the Year category, with Adegbuyi and Akekoromowei making the shortlist.

Adegbuyi, who features for Robo Queens and the Flamingos, will compete alongside Akekoromowei, who plays for Benfica and the Falconets.

The CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 7 in Lagos, where outstanding players, coaches and teams across the continent will be recognised.

(NAN)