It's that time of the year again for CAF to dish out its best players' awards. Few days ago the best men's players list was published with some of the best African players in Europe headlining the list. Just yesterday, the list for the female awards was released (even with the WAFCON ongoing). It's a particularly comprehensive list that contains the very best from the continent.
Overtime the super falcons of Nigeria has dominated female African football, sweeping up the title all (11) but two times. And the two times they did not win the title, it was hosted and won by Equatorial Guinea. They have been the giants of African female football both on titles won on the pitch and on the podium.
Since the award's inception in 2001, Nigerian players have also won the prestigious award the most times with 11. These include Perpetua Nkwocha (4), Asisat Oshoala (4), Cynthia Uwak (2) and Mercy Akide (1). The likes of Ghana and South Africa has seen their players claim the award twice each, while Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea have seen their players win it once each. These are the statistics that has cemented the super falcons' place as favorites both on the pitch and the podium.
But recently, many pundits believe that South Africa is fast becoming the new powerhouse on the continent. It is widely accepted that for you to be the best, then you have to beat the best. Few months ago the Bayana Bayana came down to Nigeria to beat the Super falcons (the hosts), during the Aisha Buhari invitational tournament. And then just few days ago, they got another one over the champions at the ongoing WAFCON, beating the falcons 2-1 in their opening fixture.
As if that wasn't enough, the south Africans dominate the just released CAF Women's Best list with 6 representatives. The super falcons have 4 representatives, same with Cameroon, while Morocco have 3 representatives. The six South African players nominated for the individual award are Andile Dlamini, Bambanani Mbane, Thembi Kgatlana, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Refiloe Jane, and Linda Motlhalo.
Mathematically that gives them a better chance of winning the award, but the Nigerian players on the list are no pushovers. Led by Asisat Oshoala, the likes of Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are all stars in their own rights. That gives them a very serious case for the award.
But the standout performer without a doubt is Asisat Oshoala. The Barcelona star is a gem who has dominated the African scene and is making serious waves in Europe. She is by a distance the best and the most dominant force in female African football. A league winner with the Barcelona team, Asisat finished the season as the team's top scorer with 20 league goals (no penalties) in 19 appearances, while chipping in with 3 assists.
She averaged 1.76 goals and 0.26 assists per 90minutes en route leading the team to the la liga women's league title. She also scored and assisted 1 goal each in 6 appearances in the UEFA Women's Champions League. She's currently the best female export from Africa and stands head and shoulders ahead of her peers.
Taking into consideration that performance on the ongoing WAFCON doesn't count (she got injured in the first match and is set to miss the rest of the tournament), this award is definitely made for Asisat, and I'd be shocked if she did not win it.
The South African ladies might dominate the list but I don't see any of them posing any serious threat to the Nigerian magician. Asisat is primed to win this award a record 5th time and make it hers.
The CAF Women's best was made for Asisat and Asisat was made for the CAF Women's Best, they're a perfect match.
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