Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has not been nominated for the 2026 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, while 17-year-old Falconets shot-stopper Christiana Uzoma has earned a place among the nominees.
The list of nominees for the individual accolade was announced on Tuesday via the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) official X account as the annual celebration of African football’s finest draws closer.
Nnadozie’s omission comes after a disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign, during which she conceded six goals in four matches and kept just one clean sheet as the Super Falcons exited the competition at the quarter-final.
The 25-year-old was also between the posts when Nigeria suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Africa shortly after their WAFCON exit, bringing their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup to an end.
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However, Nnadozie enjoyed an impressive debut season with Women’s Super League (WSL) side Brighton, keeping six clean sheets in 19 appearances. Her tally was the joint-second highest in the league, while her save percentage (74.7%) was the best among goalkeepers.
The Nigerian International also played an important role in Brighton’s run to the Women’s FA Cup final, although they eventually suffered a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Nnadozie’s absence from the shortlist means she will not have the opportunity to claim the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for a fourth consecutive year, having won it in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
While the Super Falcons goalkeeper misses out, her compatriot Christiana Uzoma has earned a nomination at just 17 years of age.
The highly rated Edo Queens goalkeeper represented Nigeria at the recently concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, where the Falconets reached the quarter-finals before suffering a late 1-0 defeat to Colombia.
Uzoma will face competition from some of the continent’s leading goalkeepers, including Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina, who was named Best Goalkeeper at the 2026 WAFCON after playing a key role as the Indomitable Lionesses became African champions for the first time ever.
The other nominees are Algeria’s Chloe N’gazi, Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan, Malawi’s Mercy Sikelo, Mali’s Fatoumata Karantao, Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye, South Africa’s Kaylin Swart and Zambia’s Hazel Nali.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place on December 7 in Lagos at the newly transformed Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre.
The event marks Nigeria’s return as host of the prestigious African football awards for the first time in almost a decade.
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