Izuchukwu OkosiAs many as seven Nigerian players have been nominated for the 2023 Confederation of African Football (CAF) women’s player of the year award which also has a strong Moroccan representation.
The Super Falcons players made the nomination list, which was released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after an impressive showing at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Nigerian stars that made the cut are Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale and Toni Payne.
The Nigeria contingent consist of the highest number of nominees in the 30-player list, which comprises women from 12 countries.
Barcelona Femina star Oshoala who scored a fantastic Champions League goal on Tuesday night is the current holder of the top prize after winning the 2022 edition of the award.
The triumph was her fifth time winning the award — surpassing Perpetua Nkwocha, the former Falcons striker.
Nnadozie was also nominated for the women’s goalkeeper of the year, while Randy Waldrum, Super Falcons head coach, was named in the nominees for coach of the year.
For the best young player of the year, the Nigerian trio of Deborah Abiodun, Esther Ajakaye and Oluwatosin Demehin were listed among the nominees.
The Super Falcons got the nod and were included among contenders for the women’s national team of the year.
The 2023 CAF awards ceremony will be held on December 11 in Marrakech, Morocco.
Player of the Year (Women)
Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon, Internazionale Milano)
Evelyn Badu (Ghana, Avaldnes)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, Paris Saint-Germain)
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Wuhan Jiangda)
Anissa Lahmari (Morocco, Levante Las Planas)
Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)
Ibtissam Jraidi (Morocco, AS FAR/Al Ahli)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
Zenatha Coleman (Namibia, Fenerbahce)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
Christy Ucheibe (Nigeria, Benfica)
Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria, Alaves/Pachuca)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria, Atletico Madrid)
Toni Payne (Nigeria, Sevilla)
Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria, Tigres/Racing Louisville)
Ndeye Awa Diakhaté (Senegal, Olympique de Marseille)
Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Hilda Magaia (South Africa, Sejong Sportstoto)
Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa, Juarez/Monterrey)
Linda Motlhalo (South Africa, Glasgow City)
Refiloe Jane (South Africa, Sassuolo)
Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
Afi Sabine Woedikou (Togo, Strasbourg/Nantes)
Sabrina Ellouzi (Tunisia, Excelsior)
Fazila Ikwaput (Uganda, Kampala Queens)
Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)
Grace Chanda (Zambia, Madrid CFFRachael Kundananji (Zambia, Madrid CFF)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)
Ange Bawou (Cameroon, Bayelsa Queens/ BIIK-Shymkent)
Dolores Hernandez Masongo (Equatorial Guinea, Huracanes)
Imane Abdelahad (Morocco, SC Casablanca)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Kaylin Swart (South Africa, JVW)
Najiat Abass Idrisa (Tanzania, JKT Queens)
Catherine Musonda (Zambia, Tomiris Turan)
Cynthia Shongwe (Zimbabwe, Harare City)
Young Player of the Year (not more than 21 years)
Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
Mary Amponsah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburg Panthers)
Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Nigeria, Delta Queens)
Oluwatosin Demehin (Nigeria, Stade Reims)
Hapsatou Malado Diallo (Senegal, USPA/Eibar)
Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa, University of Johannesburg FC)
Winifreda Gerald (Tanzania, JKT Queens)
Fauzia Najjemba (Uganda, Dynamo Moscow)
Coach of the Year (Women)
Nana Joe Adarkwa (Ampem Darkoa)
Lovemore Fazili (Malawi)
Mehdi El Qaichouri (SC Casablanca)
Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR)
Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
Randy Waldrum (Nigeria)
Mame Moussa Cisse (Senegal)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Esther Chabruma (JKT Queens)
National Team of the Year (Women)
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Ghana
Malawi
Morocco
Nigeria
Senegal
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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