Six Nigerian players and teams have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, securing the country the highest number of nominations this year.
Top Nigerian nominees include Ademola Lookman, a forward for Atalanta, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, goalkeeper for Paris FC and the Super Falcons. Lookman, 27, is vying for African Men’s Player of the Year, alongside Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams. He could succeed last year’s winner, Victor Osimhen.
Chiamaka Nnadozie is nominated for two awards: African Women’s Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. She won the Goalkeeper of the Year title in 2023 and faces Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini for the same honor this year. For the Women’s Player award, she is up against Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Morocco’s Sanaâ Mssoudy.
Nigeria’s national teams also made the cut. The Super Eagles are finalists for Men’s National Team of the Year, while the Super Falcons are competing for Women’s National Team of the Year against Morocco and South Africa.
At the club level, Edo Queens, who impressed with their debut semi-final run in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, are nominated for Women’s Club of the Year. They face TP Mazembe of DR Congo and AS FAR of Morocco.
Another Nigerian star, Chiamaka Okuchukwu of Rivers Angels, is a finalist for Women’s Young Player of the Year, competing with Doha El Madani of AS FAR (Morocco) and Habiba Sabry of FC Masar (Egypt).
The CAF Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco, where Africa’s finest footballers, teams, and clubs will be celebrated.
Nigeria’s dominance in the nominations highlights the country's growing influence in African football.
