For the first time in many years, no Super Falcons player will be in contention for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award following their omission from the nominees released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday.
The nominations, announced via CAF’s X handle, come ahead of the award ceremony scheduled to hold in Lagos on 7 December 2026.
The shortlist features nominees from different African countries across three individual categories — Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year.
Nigeria, however, will be represented in the National Team of the Year category, with the Super Falcons making the 10-team shortlist.
The absence of Nigerian players from the major individual categories is particularly striking and comes against the backdrop of the Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals. They also failed in their bid to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigerian stars have historically dominated the women’s individual award, with Asisat Oshoala (six), Perpetua Nkwocha (four), Cynthia Uwak (two) and Mercy Akide (one) accounting for 13 of the 20 CAF Women’s Player of the Year awards presented since 2001.
Akide also won the inaugural edition in 1999, the same year Kanu Nwankwo claimed the men’s award.
Among the nominees for the Player of the Year award is Malawi international Temwa Chawinga, who featured in the top 10 of the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings and finished as the leading scorer at the last WAFCON. Her sister, Tabitha Chawinga, also made the shortlist.
Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina is nominated in both the Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year categories.
Other nominees for the top individual prize include 2018 winner Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa, Zambia’s 2024 winner Barbra Banda, Cameroon’s Monique Ngock, who was named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 WAFCON, Algeria’s Marine Dafeur, Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, Ghana’s Portia Boakye and Morocco’s Hanane Aït El Haj.
Another notable omission for Nigeria is three-time Goalkeeper of The Year winner Chiamaka Nnadozie, who missed out on the goalkeeper shortlist despite an impressive season with Brighton Women, where she topped the Women’s Super League save statistics.
In her absence, Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma earned a nomination in the Goalkeeper of the Year category, where she will compete against Bihina, whose impressive performances at the WAFCON have made her one of the favourites.
Meanwhile, Benfica and Falconets forward Janet Akekoromowei, alongside Robo Queens and Flamingos forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, made the shortlist for the Young Player of the Year award.
The Super Falcons will also compete for the National Team of the Year award alongside Algeria, Cape Verde, WAFCON champions Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco and South Africa.
Other categories of the 2026 CAF Awards are expected to be announced in the coming days, ahead of the final shortlists for the ceremony in Lagos.
