As the year comes to an end, sports awards are being given throughout different disciplines in recognition of the athletes who made the 2024 sports scene an interesting one.
The CAF Awards Ceremony
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) released the complete list of nominees for the yearly CAF Awards. The CAF Awards is a ceremony where the African Continent celebrates soccer at its finest on the continent, honoring the best African football players. This year’s ceremony will take place today, December 16th, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga, and Racheal Kundananji are in a tight race. The three players, alongside seven other players, have been nominated for CAF Women Player of the Year. Banda (Zambia) has reason to celebrate this year as she has received several awards and honors, on top of playing a key role in winning the Orlando Pride’s first Championship in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
A few days after the NWSL victory, she was humbled to be selected as the BBC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. Barbra managed to beat the other four nominees, who also had an outstanding 2024 soccer season.
The Nominees Were:
Aitana Bonmati (Spain, Barcelona), Naomi Girma (USA, San Diego), Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona) and Sophia Smith (USA, Portland). Barbra was also named on the NWSL Best XI team alongside Smith and Chawinga (Malawi). Temwa’s impact on Kansas City has been impressive, with a record-breaking debut season. She finished the season as the highest-scoring player in the NWSL with 23 goals and she was named the league’s MVP.
Kundananji (Zambia), who plays for the Bay FC for the 2024 season, had a great impact on the team’s overall performance. She added great depth to the roster with her athleticism and scoring ability. She scored two goals in a decisive game against the Houston Dash, enabling the team to proceed to playoffs.
Other Nominees in the CAF Women Player of the Year
Other nominees in the same category are Sandrine Niyonkuru (Burundi, FC Masar), Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, Olympique Lyonnais), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco, AS FAR), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC), Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria, Atletico Madrid), Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa, Monterrey), Thembi Kgatlana and (South Africa, Tigers UANL).
Other Categories
Goalkeeper of the Year
Cathy Biya (Cameroon, Eclair), Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo, TP Mazembe), Habiba Sabry (Egypt, FC Masar), Fatima El Jebraoui (Morocco, Wydad Athletic Club), Khadija Er-Rmichi Morocco, AS FAR), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC), Monle Omini Oyono (Nigeria, Edo Queens), Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns), Thandeka Ngcobo (South Africa, University of the Western Cape) and Catherine Musonda (Zambia, Indeni Roses).
Inter Club Player of the Year
Sandrine Niyonkuru (Burundi / FC Masar), Merveille Nanguji (DR Congo, TP Mazembe), Marta Flora Lacho (DR Congo, TP Mazembe), Doha El Madani (Morocco, AS FAR), Khadija Er-Rmichi Morocco, AS FAR), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco, AS FAR), Emem Essien (Nigeria, Edo Queens), Monle Omini Oyono (Nigeria, Edo Queens), Amogelang Motau (University of the Western Cape), and Shadia Nankya (Uganda, FC Masar).
Young Player of the Year
Cathy Biya (Cameroon, Eclair), Naomi Eto (Cameroon, Amazone FAP), Habiba Sabry (Egypt, FC Masar), Stella Nyamekye (Ghana, Dreamz Ladies), Valerie Nekesa (Kenya, Madira Girls), Doha El Madani (Morocco, AS FAR), Lina Mokhtar Jamai (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain), Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Nigeria, Rivers Angels), Flourish Sabastine (Nigeria, Stade de Reims), and Nthabiseng Majiya (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns).
Coach of the Year
Hassan Balla Abdousalami (Cameroon U-20), Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe), Ahmed Ramadan (FC Masar), Mildred Cheche (Kenya U-17), Mohamed Amine Alioua (AS FAR), Bankole Olowookere (Nigeria U-17), Christopher Danjuma (Nigeria U-20), Moses Adukwu (Edo Queens), Mbayang Thiam (Aigles de la Medina), and Thinasonke Mbuli (University of the Western Cape).
National Team of the Year
Cameroon U-20, Kenya U-17, Malawi, Morocco, Morocco U-20, Nigeria, Nigeria U-17, Nigeria U-20, South Africa, and Zambia.
Club of the Year
TP Mazembe (DR Congo), FC Masar (Egypt), CBE (Ethiopia), AS FAR (Morocco), Edo Queens (Nigeria), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and University of the Western Cape (South Africa).
