CAF unveils nominees in Women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Wednesday the nominees in the Women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2025, celebrating excellence in African women's football over the past 12 months.
The CAF Awards ceremony will honour the players, coaches and teams that have made a significant impact for the period under consideration of 6 January to 15 October 2025.
A panel of experts made up of CAF Technical & Development Committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends and selected media representatives decided on 10 nominees for each category considering the performance in all competitions.
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The competition for the Women's Player of the Year title is fiercer than ever, showcasing an exceptional lineup that reflects the diversity and growth of African women's football.
Ghanaian Portia Boakye (Hapoel Petah Tikva) brings experience, while Malawian sisters Tabitha Chawinga (OL Lyonnes) and Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City) symbolise a dynamic new generation ready to shine on the biggest stages.
Moroccan captain Ghizlaine Chebbak (Al Hilal), the top scorer of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 with five goals, will spearhead the Maghreb challenge, alongside her compatriot Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR).
From Nigeria, Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto) and Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint-Germain), both part of the 2024 African champions, proudly represent Nigeria.
Senegal is represented by Mama Diop (RC Strasbourg), a key attacking player in Europe. Finally, Zambia boasts two strong contenders: title holder Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) and Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC).
Nominees:
Portia Boakye (Ghana/Hapoel Petah Tikva)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi/OL Lyonnes)
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi/Kansas City)
Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal)
Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria/AFC Toronto)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria/Paris Saint-Germain)
Mama Diop (Senegal/RC Strasbourg)
Barbra Banda (Zambia/Orlando Pride)
Rachael Kundananji (Zambia/Bay FC)
WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
The Goalkeeper of the Year category showcases the richness and diversity of African football, featuring representatives from 10 different countries.
Two-time winner Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion) of Nigeria aims to retain her title amid strong competition. South Africa's Andile Dlamini and Botswana's Sedilame Boseja (both Mamelodi Sundowns) emerge as her main rivals.
Other players highlight the growing prominence of goalkeepers on the continent, including Algeria's Chloe N'Gazi (Olympique de Marseille), Congo's Fideline Ndoy (TP Mazembe), Egypt's Habiba Emad (FC Masar), Ghana's Cynthia Konlan (Swieqi United), Mali's Fatoumata Karantao (USFAS Bamako), Morocco's Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR), and Senegal's Adji Ndiaye (AS Bambey).
Nominees:
Chloe N'Gazi (Algeria/Olympique de Marseille)
Sedilame Boseja (Botswana/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Fideline Ndoy (DRC/TP Mazembe)
Habiba Emad (Egypt/FC Masar)
Cynthia Konlan (Ghana/Swieqi United)
Fatoumata Karantao (Mali/USFAS Bamako)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco/AS FAR)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Brighton & Hove Albion)
Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
Andile Dlamini (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
WOMEN’S INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Continental competitions have provided a platform for exceptional players, and the Interclub Player of the Year category highlights the consistency and quality of representatives from Africa's top teams.
Morocco's AS FAR, South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, and Cote d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas are noted for their performances, while Botswana's Gaborone United exemplifies the rise of women's football in Southern Africa.
Nominees:
Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Botswana/Gaborone United)
Maungo Maponga (Botswana/Gaborone United)
Ami Diallo (Cote d’Ivoire/ASEC Mimosas)
Habibou Ouedraogo (Cote d’Ivoire/ASEC Mimosas)
Ana Maria Nchama (Equatorial Guinea/15 de Agosto)
Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
Oumou Koné (Mali/USFAS Bamako)
Bambanani Mbane (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Jamila Rajab (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
This category recognises coaches who have made significant contributions through their vision, leadership, and results.
Lamia Boumehdi from Morocco, who won last year’s title with TP Mazembe, will defend her title against South Africa's Desiree Ellis, a multi-time winner, and emerging talents such as Zambia's Carol Kanyemba and Ivorian Adelaide Koudougnon (Cote d'Ivoire U-17), both of whom have led their teams to qualify for the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria's Bankole Olowookere will also be in the running with his U-17 team. Genoveva Anonma, who was named the best player and top scorer of the 2008 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s AFCON, led her Equatorial Guinean club 15 de Agosto to the Women’s Champions League finals.
Siaka Gigi Traoré distinguished himself with ASEC Mimosas, while Justin Madugu, who led the Super Falcons to the 2024 African championship, Jorge Vilda, finalist of the last CAF TotalEnergies Women’s AFCON with Morocco, and Lars Kim, who finished third at that tournament with Ghana, complete this exceptional list.
Nominees:
Adelaide Koudougnon (Côte d'Ivoire U-17)
Siaka Gigi Traoré (ASEC Mimosas/Côte d'Ivoire)
Lamia Boumehdi (Morocco/TP Mazembe)
Genoveva Anonma (Equatorial Guinea/15 de Agosto)
Lars Kim (Ghana)
Jorge Vilda (Morocco)
Bankole Olowookere (Nigeria U-17)
Justin Madugu (Nigeria)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Carol Kanyemba (Zambia U-17)
WOMEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The future of African women's football is bright, with 10 promising young talents nominated.
Nominees:
Habiba Essam (Egypt/Al Ahly)
Habiba Sabry (Egypt/FC Masar)
Stella Nyamekye (Ghana/Fort Lauderdale United)
Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Nigeria/Bayelsa Queens)
Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
Esther Maseke Marwa (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
Winfrida Gerald (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
Mercy Chipasula (Zambia/Mighty Wanderers)
Ruth Mukoma (Zambia/Zesco United)
WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
This category honours the teams that have excelled on both continental and global stages.
Nominees:
Cameroon U-17
Côte d'Ivoire U-17
Ghana
Mali
Morocco
Nigeria
Nigeria U-17
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia U-17
WOMEN’S CLUB OF THE YEAR
The ten best African women's clubs are in contention for this title.
Nominees:
Gaborone United (Botswana)
ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea)
USFAS Bamako (Mali)
AS FAR (Morocco)
Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria)
Aigles de la Medina (Senegal)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
JKT Queens (Tanzania)
For more information on the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony, please visit: www.cafonline.com
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CAF | Communication Division