Nigeria have been omitted from the CAF Women’s Player of the Year shortlist for the first time since the award began in 1999, ending a dominant run that produced 14 Nigerian winners.
The 10-player shortlist, announced by CAF on Tuesday, features three members of Cameroon’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad and Malawi’s Chawinga sisters. It comes after a difficult year for the Super Falcons, who surrendered their continental title and failed to qualify for the Women’s FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria will host the December 7 awards ceremony in Lagos without a contender for the prize its players have claimed more often than any other nation. Asisat Oshoala accounts for six of those victories, Perpetua Nkwocha four, Cynthia Uwak two, and Mercy Akide the first three (1999–2001).
The absence follows the Falcons’ earliest WAFCON exit—a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon—and a 2-1 playoff loss to South Africa that ended their hopes of reaching Brazil 2027. That result also snapped Nigeria’s perfect record of appearing at every Women’s World Cup since the tournament started in 1991.
No Nigerian made CAF’s WAFCON Team of the Tournament either. Cameroon’s strong campaign was reflected in the nominations: Washington Spirit midfielder Monique Ngock (tournament best player), Benfica goalkeeper Michaely Bihina (best goalkeeper), and Fenerbahce forward Marie Ngah Manga, who scored twice in the final.
Malawi’s historic run to the final and first World Cup qualification earned recognition for both Temwa Chawinga (WAFCON top scorer with five goals and two assists) and her sister Tabitha. Zambia’s Barbra Banda (2024 winner) and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana (2018 winner) are also on the list, alongside Ghana’s Portia Boakye, Algeria’s Marine Dafeur and Morocco’s Hanane Aït El Haj.
Nigeria still has representation in other categories. Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma is nominated for Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi are in the young player race, and the Super Falcons feature among the nominees for Women’s National Team of the Year.