The CAF’s award ceremony saw prizes being clutched and one of the top prizes was the CAF’s women player of the year award won by Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala taking the lead in votes from the CAF’s panel of experts ahead of South Africa’s Thembi kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda.
Asisat oshoala has done it once again making this year’s her sixth time being a recipient of the prestigious award. She previously won the prize in the year 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022 further extending her dominance as a foremost female African player appreciated for her undeniable skills globally.
The Barcelona star attended the ceremony held at Palais des congrés Marrakech, Morocco, after the announcement looking all elated Oshoala gave a speech.
“Tonight, I would love to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has been part of my journey from grassroots football to the national level to the club side. Because without you, my coaches, and my teammates, there will be no me.
“Football is a team sport; it’s a team game and I urge all the federations in Africa to please come together; let’s work together and build our continent. Let’s make it the best in the world.
“It is very possible; it happened in the last men’s World Cup; we saw what happened, and we shocked the world. In the last World Cup, all the national teams that represented Africa in Australia made history.
“And I believe that before the next World Cup, we can get better, we can do better and we can win it for sure. Because at the end of the day, if we don’t support ourselves, nobody will come to Africa; nobody will come to this continent to support us. “We have to work together as a team because football is a team sport. Let’s start at home and go to the world and conquer it.”
Her speech incites the African continent to achieve better in terms of football and place the continent above others by evoking team spirit. Asisat Oshoala’s tremendous performance last season earned her this year’s title at the CAF’s award.
She won the Liga f league and the women’s UEFA champions league finishing off as the top goal scorer with a total of 27 goals. She was also nominated for the Ballon d’or prize this year. Her contributions paved the way for Nigeria women’s national team qualification to the round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup.
The night was a huge victory to Nigerian female football players as the Nigeria women’s national team aka the Super Falcon won the women’s national team of the year and Oshoala’s teammate Chiamaka Nnadozie received the CAF women’s goalkeeper of the year award for the first time.
Other winners awarded from the session includes:
- Desiree Ellis, coach of the South African women’s national team, retains the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations accolade. She led the team to their first Cup of Nations and second FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, building on her wins in 2018, 2019, and 2022, showcasing her coaching prowess and dedication to success.
- Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Young Player of the Year (Women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
- National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria
