South Africa may have missed out on the Player of the Year category at the upcoming and much-anticipated CAF Awards 2022, but they still have a strong presence in the event.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies trio of goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, defender Bambanani Mbane and head coach Jerry Tshabalala are still in the running for accolades, along with Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis.
The Banyana Banyana duo of Dlamini and Mbane will have to battle it out with Ghana’s Evelyn Badu, previously with Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies but now with Alvaldsnes, for the coveted Woman Interclub Player of the Year award.
The two South Africans, currently on national team duty in Morocco at the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, have stood out for both club and country.
They played a pivotal role in seeing Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies secure a treble in 2021 – the Hollywoodbets Super League, the COSAFA Club Women’s Championships and the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League.
Sticks and Juice, as Dlamini and Mbane are respectively referred to by their peers, took their exploits to the national team where they not only saw Banyana Banyana qualify for the 2022 WAFCON, but also helped South Africa reach the final of the competition, and in the process book their tickets to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, their second in a row.
They stand on the gates of glory preparing to face hosts Morocco to see who will lift their continental title on Saturday in Rabat – after the defending champions Nigeria were knocked out in the semi-finals.
Tshabalala, who barked instructions to Dlamini and Mbane on the sidelines, faces stiff opposition from compatriot, Ellis, two-time winner of the award, and reigning CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, as well as Bruce Mwape of Zambia and Morocco’s Reynald Pedros.
Tshabalala masterminded the Brazilians’ treble achievement, while Ellis was instrumental in qualifying the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana for their successive FIFA Women’s World Cup and getting the squad to the final where they stand a chance of lifting their maiden continental title.
Mwape led the Copper Queens to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the sole African representatives and subsequently qualified the squad to their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Southern Africans are still in line for a medal in Morocco as they will face Nigeria in the battle for bronze.
Pedros has been in charge of the rise of the women’s football in Morocco, pushing them all the way to not only their first World Cup appearance but also to the cusp of history for a gold medal in their maiden WAFCON final.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are also still in the running for the Women’s Club of the Year award after their magnificent performance on the domestic, regional and continental front. They will contest the award alongside Morocco’s AS Far and Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana, who they beat in the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The Women’s Player of the Year category will be a battle between four time winner, Nigeria and Barcelona red-hot striker Asisat Oshoala, Cameroon’s Ajara Ncout Njoya as well as newcomer Grace Chanda of Zambia.
The Awards Gala will be held on Thursday, 21 July in Rabat, Morocco.
Full list of top 3 nominees (in alphabetical order);
Player of the Year (Women)
Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon & Internazionale Milano)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)
Grace Chanda (Zambia & BIIK Kazygurt)
Player of the Year (Men)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women)
Andile Dlamini (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Bambanani Mbane (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
Achraf Dari (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
Aliou Dieng (Mali & Al Ahly)
Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt & Al Ahly)
Young Player of the Year (Women)
Doris Boaduwaa (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies)
Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes)
Yasmine Zouhir (Morocco & AS Saint-Etienne)
Young Player of the Year (Men)
Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia & Manchester United)
Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire & ASEC/RB Salzburg)
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal & Tottenham Hotspur)
Coach of the Year (Women)
Bruce Mwape (Zambia)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Jerry Tshabalala (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
Coach of the Year (Men)
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Carlos Queiroz (Egypt)
Walid Regragui (Wydad Athletic Club)
Club of the Year (Women)
AS FAR (Morocco)
Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Club of the Year (Men)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
RS Berkane (Morocco)
Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
National Team of the Year (Men)
Cameroon
Egypt
Senegal
National Team of the Year (Women)
Due to the absence of a major women’s competition during the period under review, the Organising Team for the CAF Awards 2022 has reviewed the selection process for this important category. The TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco will be factored as one of the criterion in deciding a winner befitting of the status of the award and women’s football in general. The winner will be announced on 23 July 2022 during the final match of the Women’s AFCON.
Goal of the Year
Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi & Orlando Pirates)
Pape Ousmane Sakho (Senegal & Simba)
Zouhair El Moutaraji (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
By Matlhomola Morake (additional reporting by CAFOnline)
