Nigeria earned nominations in three of the four remaining women’s categories at the 2026 CAF Awards. The lists were released by the Confederation of African Football.
Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, youth players Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, and the Super Falcons were all named. South Africa also features, with Thembi Kgatlana, Kaylin Swart and the national team on the lists, according to ZAlebs.
Uzoma will compete for the goalkeeper award against nine other keepers. They include South Africa’s Kaylin Swart, Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi and Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina.
The other goalkeepers on the list are Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan, Malawi’s Mercy Sikelo and Mali’s Fatoumata Karantao. Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye and Zambia’s Hazel Nali complete the group.
Nigeria has two players in the running for Women’s Young Player of the Year. Akekoromowei plays for Benfica and the Falconets. Adegbuyi plays for Robo Queens and the Flamingos.
Their rivals for the young player award are Romaine Gandonou, Maëva Nyanidjo, Grace-Ruth Sery and N’Sira Ouédraogo. Rose Kadzere, Kautar Azraf, Adji Ndiaye and Winfrida Gerald are also nominated.
The Super Falcons were named for Women’s National Team of the Year. This is even though they did not win the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will compete with South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde and Côte d’Ivoire for that award. Ghana, Malawi, Mali and Morocco are also on the list.
No Nigerian player was picked for Women’s Player of the Year. Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and former winner Asisat Oshoala were left off the 10-player list.
Chiamaka Nnadozie was also missing from the goalkeeper list. She had won the goalkeeper award in each of the last three editions.
Nigeria has won the WAFCON title a record 10 times. ZAlebs said the missing names could reflect the Falcons’ poor showing at the latest WAFCON.
Nigeria did not reach the semi-finals of that tournament. As a result, the team failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The Women’s Player of the Year list has players from seven African countries. Cameroon has the most, with Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock picked after a strong 2026 WAFCON.
Malawi is represented by sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga. South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana is also nominated, along with Algeria’s Marine Dafeur and Ghana’s Portia Boakye.
Morocco’s Hanane Ait El Haj and Zambia captain Barbra Banda complete the list of nominees.
Temwa Chawinga finished as the top scorer at the 2026 WAFCON with five goals. ZAlebs said she is expected to be one of the main contenders. Banda and Ngah Manga also played well at the tournament.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will be held in Lagos on 7 December.
Source: this article is based on reporting by ZAlebs. Image: ZAlebs. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.