Atletico Madrid Forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Paris FC Goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie have both been nominated for the Women’s player of the year award at the CAF Awards 2024.
The Nigerian duo were nominated alongside several other superstars including: Sandrine Niyonkuru (Burundi and Tutankhamun), Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi and Olympique Lyonnais Féminine), Temwa Chawinga (Malawi and Kansas City), Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco and Asfar), Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa and Monterrey), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa and Tigres UANL Femenil), Barbra Banda (Zambia and Orlando Pride), and Racheal Kundananji (Zambia and Bay FC).
Rasheedat Ajibade has been one of the standout performers for Atletico Madrid this year. The Nigerian forward recorded 11 goals and 8 assists in 35 games in the 2023-2024 season. She has also taken her form into this season, recording 5 goals and 2 assists in 9 matches so far. While the Super Falcons were eliminated in the group stage of the Summer Olympics, Ajibade still showed flashes of brilliance while putting in maximum effort to make the Nation proud.
The calm and confident Chiamaka Nnadozie was also excellent for her club side, Paris FC. She had various exceptional performances in the 2023-2024 season, including 2 crucial penalty saves to dump Arsenal out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She also led her club to a 3rd place finish in the French Division 1 Féminine.
Despite Nigeria’s early exit in the Olympics, Nnadozie was one of the shining lights as she consistently displayed her shot stopping ability and her calmness to play out of the back. “I was very emotional at that moment, I felt like I was scoring the goal too. I saw Gabi’s movement, I managed to pass it perfectly and she hit a great shot, beating the Nigerian goalkeeper, who is a great goalkeeper,” 6 time Ballon D’or winner, Marta said, as she heaped praise on Nnadozie.
Chiamaka Nnadozie and Edo Queens goalkeeper, Monle Oyono were also nominated for the women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award alongside other goalkeepers including: Cathy Biya (Cameroon and Eclair), Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo and TP Mazembe), Habiba Sabry (Egypt and Masar), Fatima El Jebraoui (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco and FAR Rabat), Andile Dlamini (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns), Thandeka Ngcobo (South Africa and University of the Western Cape), and Catherine Musonda (Zambia and Indeni Roses).
