Head Coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis has retained her trophy after she was named the 2023 Women’s Coach of the Year at a glittering ceremony held in Morocco on Monday night (11 December).
It was for the second time in a row that the awards were held in North Africa, this time at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech – the 2022 event took place in Rabat, Morocco.
On Monday, the who’s who of African Football were in attendance, led by the CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, and included former footballers like South Africa’s Janine van Wyk and Siphiwe Tshabalala. Other African legends included, among others, El Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa), Manuel Jose Luis Bucuane (Mozambique), Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Geremi Njitap (Cameroon), Pascal Feindouno (Guinea), Andile Dlamini (South Africa), Thomas Nkono (Cameroon) and Abedi Pele (Ghana), Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria), Ahmed Hassan (Egypt), Siaka Tiene (Côte d’Ivoire), Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia), Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa), Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal), Patrick M’Boma (Cameroon), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria), Titi Camara (Guinea), Salomon Kalou (Côte d’Ivoire) and Anthony Baffoe (Ghana).
Ellis has now won this award four times in a row – 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 (the ceremony was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid -19 pandemic).
The Capetonian mastermind fended off strong challenges from compatriot Jerry Tshabalala as well as Morocco’s Reynald Pedros. Tshabalala recently won his second treble – the COSAFA Cup, the CAF Women’s Champions League and the Hollywoodbets Super League, while Pedros led the North Africans at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and saw them into the Round of 16 on debut.
In her acceptance speech, Ellis dedicated the award to Tshabalala, other coaches, administrators and players.
“I would like to acknowledge coach Jerry. He does fantastic work in South Africa and that is why I am standing here. I would also like to acknowledge all the other coaches that work in women’s football. This is for all of you. For all the administrators who work in women’s football, but most importantly for the Banyana Banyana players because they make us look good. Women’s football on the continent is rising,” said a beaming Ellis.
The 60-year old is rewarded for her stellar showing with the South African Senior Women’s National team whom she qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand in August and rewrote the history books when she led them to the Round of 16 – becoming the first South African to do so across all national teams at a FIFA tournament.
A brave Banyana Banyana won the hearts of many around the globe with their exciting play, but were knocked out by the Netherlands at the global women’s football spectacle.
Last year Ellis guided her charges to continental glory when they won their maiden CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.
Five South Africans had gone to the event in North Africa, nominated in different categories but only Ellis returned home with a trophy.
Thembi Kgatlana lost out to Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala in the Player of the Year category, with the Barcelona star bagging her sixth CAF trophy – 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023. Oshoala is the only African player to achieve this. Also in the running was Zambia’s Barbara Banda.
For the Interclub Player of the Year award, Banyana Banyana’s Lebohang Ramalepe along with teammate and Botswana’s Refilwe Tholakele were pipped to the title by Fatima Tagnaout of AS FAR and Morocco.
Recently-crowned CAF Women’s Champions League Goalkeeper of the Tournament, Andile Dlamini, was unfortunate this time around as she and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi were beaten to the finish line by Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, who is on the books of Paris FC.
Nigeria walked away with the National Team of the Year accolade, fighting off the challenge of South Africa and Morocco. Banyana Banyana won the award last year.
But there were smiles all round when Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies claimed the CAF Club of the Year award – for the second year in a row – following their impressive season where they won the treble – the second in three years – with Tshabalala, Dlamini, Ramalepe and Tholakele all on hand to receive the winners’ trophy.
There was more good news for South Africa which dominated the CAF/FIFPRO Women’s Best XI as five Banyana Banyana players were named in the team – Bambanani Mbane, Dlamini, Ramalepe (all Sundowns Ladies), Linda Motlhalo (Glasgow City – Scotland) as well as Refiloe Jane (Sassuolo FC – Italy).
The winner of each category was decided following votes from a panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations. Head Coaches and captains of member associations as well as clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions
2023 CAF Awards: Nominees and winners
Player of the Year (Women)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona) – WINNER
Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women)
Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR) – WINNER
Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Coach of the Year (Women)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa) – WINNER
Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
Jerry Tshabalala (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC) –WINNER
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Young Player of the Year (Women)
Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille) –WINNER
Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburgh Panthers)
National Team of the Year (Women)
Nigeria –WINNER
Morocco
South Africa
Club of the Year (Women)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) – WINNER
AS FAR (Morocco)
Sporting Casablanca (Morocco)
WOMEN’S AFRICA XI: (AS COMPILED BY FIFPRO AFRICA)
| LINE | NAME | CLUB | NATIONALITY |
| Goalkeeper | Andile Dlamini | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| Defender | Bambanani Mbane | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| Defender | Lebohang Ramalepe | Mamelodi Sundown Ladies | South Africa |
| Defender | Michielle Aloize | Houston Dash | Nigeria |
| Defender | Osinachi Ohale | Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas | Nigeria |
| Midfielder | Fatima Tagnaout | ASFAR | Morocco |
| Midfielder | Linda Motlhalo | Glasgow City (Scotland) | South Africa |
| Midfielder | Refiloe Jane | Sassuolo (Italy) | South Africa |
| Forward | Asisat Oshoala | Barcelona | Nigeria |
| Forward | Barbra Banda | Shanghai Shengli | Zambia |
| Forward | Tabitha Chamwinga | Jiangshan University / Paris Saint-Germain | Malawi |
By Matlhomola Morake
