Ajibade Makes Final CAF Women’s Player of the Year Shortlist, Okoronkwo Misses Out

Rasheedat Ajibade reached the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year.
Esther Okoronkwo, despite her strong WAFCON outing, did not make the last three for the CAF award.
Chiamaka Nnadozie remains in contention for a third straight Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are also in the running for CAF National Team of the Year.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Rasheedat Ajibade has taken one step closer to being crowned the CAF Women’s Player of the Year, following the release of the final shortlist by the Confederation of African Football. The announcement came on Sunday evening, ending weeks of anticipation among football fans.

However, the absence of Esther Okoronkwo from the final three sparked surprise across the Nigerian football community. Okoronkwo, who plays for AFC Toronto, was earlier listed among the top ten nominees. Her performance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations—where she helped Nigeria fight back dramatically against hosts Morocco and earned Player of the Match—made her omission even more unexpected.

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Ajibade, on the other hand, enjoyed a brilliant WAFCON campaign. She was voted Woman of the Match three times and finished as the Player of the Competition as the Super Falcons powered their way to their record-extending 10th continental title. Her consistency and impact throughout the tournament strengthened her chances of clinching Africa’s biggest individual honour.

Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy complete the final three contenders, marking a strong showing for the North African nation in this year’s awards.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, remains on track for a remarkable third straight Goalkeeper of the Year crown. At just 24, the Brighton shotstopper has become one of Africa’s most reliable keepers and a key figure for both club and country.

Another Nigerian name in the spotlight is Moshood Shakirat, who made the final shortlist for the Women’s Young Player of the Year category, further highlighting the depth of emerging talent in Nigerian women’s football.

The Super Falcons themselves stand a strong chance of clinching the National Team of the Year award after a dominant year that ended with another WAFCON title added to their long list of achievements.

The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, on November 19, where Africa’s best will be officially crowned.

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