Ajibade, Nnadozie, Falcons, others nominated for 2025 CAF awards News

Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the senior women’s national team are among the nominees for the 2025 CAF Awards following their outstanding performances in the year under review.

The Confederation of African Football officially revealed the nominees for the women’s categories on Friday, with Nigerian players and teams dominating the shortlist across multiple categories.

Ajibade has been nominated for the African Player of the Year award alongside her Super Falcons team-mate Esther Okoronkwo, who won the Woman of the Match award in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Ajibade was voted Player of the Tournament at the 2024 WAFCON, where she was named Woman of the Match in three of Nigeria’s six games en route to winning the country’s record-extending 10th continental title. The Paris Saint-Germain forward netted once and provided two assists for coach Justine Madugu’s side during the tournament.

Okoronkwo, who plays for AFC Toronto of Canada, registered two goals and provided four assists throughout the competition, earning recognition for her outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s triumph.

In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nnadozie, who plays for Brighton Hove & Albion of England, has been nominated for the third consecutive year. The 24-year-old has won the award for two consecutive years and will now be eyeing her third.

The Super Falcons have been nominated for the National Team of the Year award after capturing their 10th continental title under Madugu.

Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have also been nominated in the same category following their unbeaten run in qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Madugu has been shortlisted for Women’s Coach of the Year after guiding the Super Falcons to continental glory. Flamingos coach Bankole Olowookere’s nomination is a deserved recognition for his role in building one of Africa’s most exciting youth teams, with the Flamingos maintaining an unbeaten record through their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Flamingos captain Shakirat Moshood has been named among the finalists for CAF Young Player of the Year.

Completing Nigeria’s formidable presence at the awards, Bayelsa Queens, winners of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, earned a nomination for Club of the Year. The Queens will compete against powerhouses such as South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s ASFAR, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, and Botswana’s Gaborone United, among others.