Several players from the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad are still in line for recognition after they were named on the shortlist of the 2023 CAF Women’s awards.
The trio of Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns), Hilda Magaia (South Africa, Sejong Sportstoto) and Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville) are among the 10 best players on the list of Player of the Year, alongside African greats like Zambia’s Barbara Banda, Fatima Tagnaout from Morocco, and Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria.
Dlamini has also been nominated along with Kaylin Swart (South Africa, JVW) among the top safe hands in a group of five for the Goalkeeper of the Year.
South Africa is also represented in the Interclub Player of the Year and Young Player categories with Sundowns Ladies’ Lebohang Ramalepe and Thubelihle Shamase of the University of Johannesburg (UJ Ladies) flying the flag high respectively in those awards.
All six players are currently in Cote d’Ivoire with Banyana Banyana for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers where they will face Burkina Faso on Thursday (30 November) with the return leg set for Monday, 4 December.
Head Coach of the South African Senior Women’s National team, Desiree Ellis is also in contention for the Coach of the Year – the only woman in the category among four other men, including Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Coach Jerry Tshabalala.
Ellis has won the last three editions of this award.
Banyana Banyana are still standing tall in the National Team of the Year, while Sundowns Ladies are in the Club of the Year category.
The winners will be announced at a Gala event on Monday, 11 December 2023 at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.
These will be decided through votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.
Player of the Year (Women)
1. Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon, Internazionale Milano)
2. Anissa Lahmari (Morocco, Levante Las Planas)
3. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
4. Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)
5. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
6. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
7. Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
8. Hilda Magaia (South Africa, Sejong Sportstoto)
9. Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
10. Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)
1. Imane Abdelahad (Morocco, SC Casablanca)
2. Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
3. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
4. Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
5. Kaylin Swart (South Africa, JVW)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women)
1. Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)
2. Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
3. Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
4. Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco, AS FAR)
5. Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Young Player of the Year (not more than 21 years)
1. Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
2. Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
3. Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburg Panthers)
4. Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Nigeria, Delta Queens)
5. Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa, University of Johannesburg FC)
Coach of the Year (Women)
1. Mehdi El Qaichouri (SC Casablanca)
2. Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
3. Randy Waldrum (Nigeria)
4. Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
5. Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns)
National Team of the Year (Women)
1. Morocco
2. Nigeria
3. Senegal
4. South Africa
5. Zambia
Club of the Year (Women)
1. Ampem Darkoa (Ghana)
2. AS FAR (Morocco)
3. SC Casablanca (Morocco)
4. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
5. JKT Queens (Tanzania)
By Matlhomola Morake
