THE Super Falcons of Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade and star forward Esther Okoronkwo, have been nominated for the coveted CAF African Women Player of The Year Award.
News Point Nigeria Sports reports that Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the nominees for the 2025 CAF Awards – Women’s Categories on Wednesday.
The award celebrates the standout performers in African women’s football over the past year.
Ajibade and Okoronkwo were both instrumental in Nigeria winning its 10th WAFCON title in July.
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, who ranked 4th for the Yashin Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards, is nominated for the goalkeeper of the year award.
The announcement marks the build-up to the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, which will honour players, coaches, and teams that have made significant contributions between 6 January and 15 October 2025.
CAF stated that the shortlist reflects performances across domestic, continental, and international competitions, with 10 nominees selected in each category.
The nominees were chosen by a panel of experts comprising members of the CAF Technical & Development Committee, experienced coaches, CAF Legends, and select media representatives.
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Portia Boakye (Ghana/Hapoel Petah Tikva)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi/OL Lyonnes)
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi/Kansas City)
Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal)
Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria/AFC Toronto)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria/Paris Saint-Germain)
Mama Diop (Senegal/RC Strasbourg)
Barbra Banda (Zambia/Orlando Pride)
Rachael Kundananji (Zambia/Bay FC)
WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Chloe N’Gazi (Algeria/Olympique de Marseille)
Sedilame Boseja (Botswana/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Fideline Ndoy (DRC/TP Mazembe)
Habiba Emad (Egypt/FC Masar)
Cynthia Konlan (Ghana/Swieqi United)
Fatoumata Karantao (Mali/USFAS Bamako)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco/AS FAR)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Brighton & Hove Albion)
Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
Andile Dlamini (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
WOMEN’S INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Botswana/Gaborone United)
Maungo Maponga (Botswana/Gaborone United)
Ami Diallo (Cote d’Ivoire/ASEC Mimosas)
Habibou Ouedraogo (Cote d’Ivoire/ASEC Mimosas)
Ana Maria Nchama (Equatorial Guinea/15 de Agosto)
Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
Oumou Koné (Mali/USFAS Bamako)
Bambanani Mbane (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Jamila Rajab (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Adelaide Koudougnon (Côte d’Ivoire U-17)
Siaka Gigi Traoré (ASEC Mimosas/Côte d’Ivoire)
Lamia Boumehdi (Morocco/TP Mazembe)
Genoveva Anonma (Equatorial Guinea/15 de Agosto)
Lars Kim (Ghana)
Jorge Vilda (Morocco)
Bankole Olowookere (Nigeria U-17)
Justin Madugu (Nigeria)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Carol Kanyemba (Zambia U-17)
WOMEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Habiba Essam (Egypt/Al Ahly)
Habiba Sabry (Egypt/FC Masar)
Stella Nyamekye (Ghana/Fort Lauderdale United)
Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Nigeria/Bayelsa Queens)
Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
Esther Maseke Marwa (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
Winfrida Gerald (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
Mercy Chipasula (Zambia/Mighty Wanderers)
Ruth Mukoma (Zambia/Zesco United)
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Cameroon U-17
Côte d’Ivoire U-17
Ghana
Mali
Morocco
Nigeria
Nigeria U-17
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia U-17
WOMEN’S CLUB OF THE YEAR
Nominees:
Gaborone United (Botswana)
ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea)
USFAS Bamako (Mali)
AS FAR (Morocco)
Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria)
Aigles de la Medina (Senegal)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
JKT Queens (Tanzania)