CAF Women’s Awards 2026: Nigeria Gets Four Nominations as Uzoma, Akekoromowei and Adegbuyi Make Shortlist

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the nominees for the 2026 CAF Women’s Awards, with Nigeria securing nominations in the Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year and National Team of the Year categories.

The shortlist, released through CAF’s official social media account on Tuesday, features nominees from across the continent in four categories: Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and National Team of the Year.

Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma earned a nomination for the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Benfica and Falconets forward Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Robo Queens and Flamingos forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi were shortlisted for Young Player of the Year.

Nigeria also made the 10-team shortlist for National Team of the Year. However, no Nigerian player was nominated for the individual Player of the Year award.

Among the leading names in the Player of the Year category are Malawi internationals Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga, alongside Zambia’s Barbra Banda and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana.

Temwa Chawinga, in particular, attracted attention after being included among the top 10 players in the 2026 women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.

Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina received nominations in both the Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year categories, while Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye was shortlisted for both Goalkeeper of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

Cabo Verde was the only country nominated for National Team of the Year without a player featuring in any of the three individual award categories.

The winners will be announced at the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, December 7, in Lagos State.

Nigeria previously enjoyed success at the 2025 CAF Awards, with the Super Falcons winning the Women’s National Team of the Year award, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year prize for the third consecutive time.
Full List of 2026 CAF Women’s Awards Nominees
Player of the Year

1. Marine Dafeur – Algeria
2. Marie Ngah Manga – Cameroon
3. Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
4. Monique Ngock – Cameroon
5. Portia Boakye – Ghana
6. Tabitha Chawinga – Malawi
7. Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
8. Hanane Aït El Haj – Morocco
9. Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa
10. Barbra Banda – Zambia
    Young Player of the Year
11. Romaine Gandonou – Benin
12. Maëva Nyadjou – Cameroon
13. Grace-Ruth Sery – Côte d’Ivoire
14. N’Sira Ouédraogo – Côte d’Ivoire
15. Rose Kadzere – Malawi
16. Kautar Azraf – Morocco
17. Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei – Nigeria
18. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi – Nigeria
19. Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
20. Winfrida Gerald – Tanzania
    Goalkeeper of the Year
21. Chloe N’Gazi – Algeria
22. Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
23. Cynthia Konlan – Ghana
24. Mercy Sikelo – Malawi
25. Fatoumata Karantao – Mali
26. Khadija Er-Rmichi – Morocco
27. Christiana Uzoma – Nigeria
28. Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
29. Kaylin Swart – South Africa
30. Hazel Nali – Zambia
    National Team of the Year
31. Algeria
32. Cabo Verde
33. Cameroon
34. Côte d’Ivoire
35. Ghana
36. Malawi
37. Mali
38. Morocco
39. Nigeria
40. South Africa