CAF Awards 2025: Ajibade, Falcons dominate nominees list

Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the senior women’s national team have been shortlisted for honours at the 2025 CAF Awards.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the list on Friday, with Nigerian names dominating several categories.

Ajibade, who captained the Super Falcons to their record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, is nominated for the African Player of the Year. She is joined by teammate Esther Okoronkwo, who was named Woman of the Match in the WAFCON final.

Ajibade, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was voted Player of the Tournament at WAFCON 2024 after delivering key performances, including one goal and two assists.

In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nnadozie, of Brighton & Hove Albion, is chasing her third consecutive crown after winning in 2023 and 2024.

The Super Falcons are also nominated for National Team of the Year, while their coach, Justine Madugu, makes the shortlist for Women’s Coach of the Year.

Nigeria’s U-17 side, the Flamingos, are also in contention after an unbeaten run to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Their coach, Bankole Olowookere, is up for Coach of the Year, while captain Shakirat Moshood has been named among the finalists for Young Player of the Year.

Rounding off Nigeria’s strong showing, Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, earned a nod for Club of the Year alongside Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), ASFAR (Morocco), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), and Gaborone United (Botswana).