Anxiety continues to mount ahead of Monday’s CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco. Three women’s players have been shortlisted for the Feminine Lead award, the African Woman Footballer of the Year.
The winner will be a successor to Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, the current queen who has also won for a record six times. Late Thursday night, CAF narrowed the possible winners to three.
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie is one of the trio that included Zambia striker Barbra Banda and Morocco forward Sanaâ Mssoudy.
If Nnadozie wins, she will be the first goalkeeper to win the award since 2001. The winner will also be the 11th winner in 23 years. There have been players who won multiple times.
For instance, Oshoala won six times while compatriots, Perpetua Nkwocha and Cynthia Uwak won four and two times respectively.
There were no awards in 2009, 2013, 2020 and 2021. This year’s winner will be unveiled on Monday at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco from 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT/ 20h00 Cairo time/ 21h00 East African time).
The final three are outstanding players shone throughout the year and in their own way have embodied the excellence and passion of African football.
BARBRA BANDA (ZAMBIA)
Club: Orlando Pride, United StatesThe year 2024 has been synonymous with memorable exploits for Zambia’s Copper Queens.
During the Paris Olympic Games, Banda, 24, made history by becoming the first player to score a third hat-trick at the Olympics after her two brilliant previous performances in Japan three years earlier.
After four successful years at Shanghai Shengli in China, she made a fresh start by joining Orlando Pride in the United States, becoming the second most expensive player in women’s football history.
In her first season in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Zambian captain caused a sensation by scoring the decisive goal in the final of the playoffs, one of 17 she managed in 25 games.
This earned her the title of the championship’s Most Valuable Player of 2024, thus confirming her status as an exceptional player.
SANAÂ MSSOUDY (MOROCCO)
Club: AS FAR, Morocco
Named the Best Player of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, Mssoudy lit up the competition with her exceptional performances, playing a key role in her team’s run to the final.
With her vision for the game, her refined technique and offensive instinct, she knew how to make the difference during crucial moments.
Her leadership on the pitch, combined with her unfailing determination, inspired her teammates and won over the fans.
This recognition crowns an exceptional year, marked by her commitment and her contribution to the influence of women’s football in Africa.
CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE (NIGERIA)
Club: Paris FC, France
In this new season, Nnadozie continues to confirm her status as a world-class goalkeeper.
With regular top performances and decisive saves, she has asserted herself as a crucial figure for Paris FC in France’s Division 1 Féminine.
Her clean sheet ratio of 33% testifies to his efficiency and the ability to keep the team in title contention, providing reassuring security at the back.
The 24-year-old was named Goalkeeper of the Season in the 2023/24 Division 1 Féminine as her side finished third in the league.
She also represented Nigeria at the Paris Olympic Games and as the season progresses, she hopes to continue to push her limits and play an instrumental role in her team’s future success.
