Rasheedat Ajibade, captain of Nigeria’s Super Falcons; goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie; and the senior women’s national team have been nominated for the 2025 CAF Awards in recognition of their great efforts in the previous year.
The Confederation of African Football announced the nominees for the women’s divisions on Friday, with Nigerian individuals and teams dominating the shortlist in several categories.
Ajibade has been nominated for the African Player of the Year award, along with her Super Falcons teammate Esther Okoronkwo, who was named Woman of the Match in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.
Ajibade was selected Player of the Tournament at the 2024 WAFCON, where she was named Woman of the Match in three of Nigeria’s six games on her way to the country’s record-breaking 10th continental title.
Ajibade, the Paris Saint-Germain forward scored once and assisted twice for coach Justine Madugu’s team throughout the competition.
Okoronkwo, who plays for AFC Toronto in Canada, scored two goals and assisted four times throughout the campaign, gaining praise for her exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s victory.
Nnadozie, who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in England, has been nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year for the third time in a row. The 24-year-old has won the prize two years in a row and is now aiming for a third.
The Super Falcons have been nominated for the National Team of the Year award after winning their tenth continental championship under Madugu.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, has also been nominated for the same category after going undefeated in qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Madugu has been nominated for Women’s Coach of the Year after leading the Super Falcons to continental success.
Bankole Olowookere, the Flamingos’ coach, has received well-deserved accolades for his role in developing one of Africa’s most exciting young sides, with the Flamingos being unbeaten in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Shakirat Moshood, the Flamingos captain, has been selected as a finalist for CAF Young Player of the Year.
Bayelsa Queens, winners of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, were also nominated for Club of the Year, rounding off Nigeria’s impressive showing at the awards. The Queens will face powerhouses such as South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s ASFAR, DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, and Botswana’s Gaborone United, among others.
