Nigeria’s impressive year in women’s football has been richly rewarded as coaches Justine Madugu and Bankole Olowookere, rising forward Shakirat Moshood, and both the Super Falcons and Flamingos secured multiple nominations at the CAF Awards 2025.
Madugu, who guided the Super Falcons to a record-extending Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title after a thrilling 3-2 victory over hosts Morocco, is among the frontrunners for CAF Women’s Coach of the Year.
The dramatic win over Jorge Vilda’s side in Rabat gave Nigeria their tenth continental crown, further cementing their dominance on the African stage.
The achievement also earned Madugu global recognition as he was listed among the top five coaches in the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or rankings.
Nigeria’s second nominee, Bankole Olowookere, led the Flamingos to qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, underlining his growing reputation as one of the continent’s brightest young tacticians.
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Justine Madugu with the 2024 WAFCON title. Photo Credit: X
The Coach of the Year category also features Adélaïde Koudougnon of Ivory Coast, Siaka Gigi Traoré of Burkina Faso, Lamia Boumehdi of Tunisia, Genoveva Añonman of Equatorial Guinea, Kim Björkgren of Ghana, Jorge Vilda of Morocco, Desiree Ellis of South Africa, and Carol Kanyemba of Zambia.
Nigeria’s success extends to the National Team of the Year (Women) category, where both the Super Falcons and the U17 Flamingos have been shortlisted. Other nominees include Morocco, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Zambia, South Africa, and Cameroon.
Flamingos Head Coach Bankole Olowokere. Photo Credit: X
In the Young Player of the Year (Women) category, Nigeria’s teenage star Shakirat Moshood is in the running after an impressive year at youth level.
She will contest the award alongside Egypt’s Habiba Essam and Habiba Sabry, Ghana’s Stella Nyamekye, Sudan’s Doha El Madani, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye, Tanzania’s Ester Maseke Marwa and Winfrida Gerald, Malawi’s Mercy Chipasula, and Zambia’s Ruth Mukoma.
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The winners will be unveiled at the CAF Awards Gala later this year, where Africa’s best in women’s, men’s, and youth football will be celebrated.
