Nigeria will have four representatives across three categories at the women’s section of the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, with the Super Falcons, Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma and youngsters Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei making the shortlists.
CAF unveiled the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for Monday, December 7, in Lagos, Nigeria.
The nominations provide recognition for Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, domestic league and emerging talents, although the country has no representative in the prestigious Women’s Player of the Year category.
The Super Falcons have been shortlisted for the Women’s National Team of the Year award despite their disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where they suffered a quarter-final exit against eventual champions Cameroon.
Nigeria will compete against Algeria, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco and South Africa for the team award.
In the individual categories, Uzoma is Nigeria’s sole representative in the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year race.
The Edo Queens shot-stopper will battle nine other nominees: Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi, Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina, Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan, Malawi’s Mercy Sikelo, Mali’s Fatoumata Karantao, Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye, South Africa’s Kaylin Swart and Zambia’s Hazel Nali.
Nigeria also has two representatives in the Women’s Young Player of the Year category, with Robo Queens and Flamingos forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi joined by Benfica and Falconets forward Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei.
They will compete against Romaine Gandonou, Maëva Nyanidjo, Grace-Ruth Sery, N’Sira Ouédraogo, Rose Kadzere, Kautar Azraf, Adji Ndiaye and Winfrida Gerald.
No Nigerian in Women’s Player of the Year race
One of the major talking points from the nominations is Nigeria’s absence from the Women’s Player of the Year shortlist, the most prestigious individual award in African women’s football.
The 10 nominees are Algeria’s Marine Dafeur; Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock; Ghana’s Portia Boakye; Malawi’s Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga; Morocco’s Hanane Aït El Haj; South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana; and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.
The omission means no Super Falcons player will challenge for the continent’s biggest individual women’s football honour this year.
It comes after a disappointing WAFCON campaign for Nigeria, who exited in the quarter-finals following a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon. The Indomitable Lionesses subsequently went on to win the continental title.
Cameroon also dominated the tournament’s individual recognition, with Monique Ngock named Best Player, Michaely Bihina winning Best Goalkeeper and Myriam Nyadjou taking the Best Young Player award.
Despite the absence of a Nigerian in the leading individual category, the nominations for Uzoma, Adegbuyi and Akekoromowei provide encouragement for the country’s domestic and youth football programmes.
The December 7 ceremony in Lagos will bring together leading players, coaches and teams from across the continent to celebrate outstanding achievements in African football.
Nigeria will now hope to convert its four nominations into silverware on home soil.
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