Nigeria will have a strong representation at the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Awards, with the Super Falcons and three Nigerian footballers earning nominations across different categories.
CAF unveiled the nominees on Tuesday, November 3, placing Nigeria among the countries seeking continental recognition ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Lagos on December 7, 2026.
Edo Queens goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma headlines Nigeria’s individual nominations after being shortlisted for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The Nigerian shot-stopper will compete against nine other African goalkeepers, including Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi, Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina, Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan, Malawi’s Mercy Sikelo, Mali’s Fatoumata Karantao and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi.
Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye, South Africa’s Kaylin Swart and Zambia’s Hazel Nali complete the shortlist.
Nigeria’s hopes of securing the Young Player of the Year award will rest on two emerging attacking talents, Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi.
Akekoromowei, who plays for Portuguese giants Benfica and has represented Nigeria’s Falconets, earned recognition alongside Adegbuyi, who features for Robo Queens and the Flamingos.
The Nigerian duo will face competition from Benin Republic’s Romaine Gandonou, Cameroon’s Maëva Nyadjou, Côte d’Ivoire’s Grace-Ruth Sery and N’Sira Ouédraogo, Malawi’s Rose Kadzere, Morocco’s Kautar Azraf, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye and Tanzania’s Winfrida Gerald.
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have also been nominated for the Women’s National Team of the Year award following another year of continental competition.
Nigeria will compete against nine other national teams, including Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco and South Africa.
However, despite Nigeria’s impressive representation across the other categories, the country will have no nominee for the prestigious Women’s Player of the Year award.
The category features some of Africa’s biggest football names, including Malawi’s Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, Zambia’s Barbra Banda and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana.
Cameroon also has three representatives in the category, with Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock making the shortlist. Algeria’s Marine Dafeur, Ghana’s Portia Boakye and Morocco’s Hanane Aït El Haj complete the nominations.
Temwa Chawinga’s inclusion is particularly notable after the Malawi international secured a place among the top 10 players in the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
Interestingly, Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina and Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye received nominations in two different individual categories, highlighting their recognition across African women’s football.
Nigeria’s nominations also provide an opportunity for the country’s emerging generation to gain continental recognition, particularly with Akekoromowei and Adegbuyi competing for the Young Player of the Year honour.
At the 2025 CAF Awards, the Super Falcons were crowned Women’s National Team of the Year, while Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time.
The latest nominations therefore present another opportunity for Nigeria to maintain its influence in African women’s football, although the absence of a Nigerian representative in the leading individual category will be a notable talking point.
With the winners set to be announced in Lagos on December 7, attention will now turn to whether the Super Falcons and their three compatriots can convert their nominations into continental awards.
