2026 CAF Awards: Super Falcons stars missing from Women’s Player of the Year shortlist
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced its shortlist for various award categories on Tuesday, revealing that no Nigerian players made the final list for the women’s category. This omission follows the Super Falcons’ underwhelming performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the team faced a quarter-final exit against Cameroon, the eventual champions.
Historically, Nigeria has had a strong presence in the awards, with former standout players such as Perpetua Nkwocha and Asisat Oshoala each winning the prestigious honor multiple times.
This year’s shortlist includes nominees from seven countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, South Africa, and Zambia. Cameroon leads the nominations with three players: Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina, and Monique Ngock, highlighting the nation’s recent successes in women’s football.
Algeria is represented by Marine Dafeur, while Ghana’s nomination comes from Portia Boakye. Malawi boasts two nominees, sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga. The shortlist is rounded out by Morocco’s Hanane Ait El Haj, South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana, and Zambia’s Barbara Banda.
