FULL LIST: All prizes Nigeria could win at 2024 CAF awards

The D-day for the 2024 CAF awards is upon us. After months of anticipation and voting, the best African footballers for the year are about to be crowned.

On Monday, in the presence of dignitaries and football legends at the Palais des Congrè in Marrakesh, Morocco, at least 15 awards will be given to footballers of both genders, coaches, and national teams and clubs.

In 2023, Nigeria reigned supreme, clinching the top two prizes. Victor Osimhen became the first Nigerian to win the men’s best player award since 1999, while Asisat Oshoala won the women’s prize for a record-extending sixth time.

Chiamaka Nnadozie also clinched the inaugural women’s goalkeeper of the year.

However, only Nnadozie returned to the mix of finalists in 2024. Ademola Lookman has replaced Osimhen, while Oshoala missed the nominees’ list for the first time since 2015.

Regardless of the absence, Nigeria is still well-represented on the nominees’ list at the 2024 CAF awards. Here are the prizes Nigeria could claim when the award ceremony starts at 7 pm.

LOOKMAN FOR THE MEN’S PRIZE

Lookman has been styled as the winner-elect for the CAF men’s best player award. Last season, the winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions for Atalanta. He scored a hattrick in the final UEFA Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen; before that, Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best performers at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

As if those feats were not impressive enough, Lookman has already got 13 goals and five assists for his club in the first half of the 2024/25 season.

However, the race has proven intense, with CAF failing to chisel the final list to three from five, reportedly, due to a tie in the voting.

Lookman will compete for the prize against Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams, and Serhou Guirassy.

NNADOZIE FOR THE WOMEN’S BEST PLAYER AND GOALKEEPER

Nnadozie is in contention to be the first goalkeeper to win the CAF women’s best player prize since its inception in 2001.

The goalkeeper was brilliant for both club and country in 2024. Nnadozie was named goalkeeper of the season in the 2023/24 French women’s league as she aided Paris FC finished third on the log.

She represented Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The goalkeeper stood out for the Super Falcons despite losing all three games and crashing out in the group phase.

Zambia’s Barbara Banda and Sanna Mssoudy of Morocco are the two other nominees for the prize.

Nnadozie is also set to retain her crown as the best women’s goalkeeper on the continent.

She won the prize in 2023 and looks set to reclaim the award the following year.

CHIAMAKA OKWUCHUKWU FOR WOMEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Okwuchukwu was Nigeria’s standout performer at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The 19-year-old scored two goals and provided one assist as Falconets progressed beyond a group with Germany, Korea and Venezuela.

Japan eventually stopped the team in the second round.

Okwuchukwu will face off Habiba Sabry of Egypt and Morocco’s Doha El Madani

MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

The Nigerian Super Eagles have been nominated for the prize following their silver-medal-winning campaign at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

The team defied many pre-tournament expectations, overcame the early jitters shown in the group phase, and produced Nigeria’s biggest AFCON performance in over a decade.

Nigeria defeated Cameroon in the second round, edged Angola in the quarter-final, and surpassed South Africa in the semis. However, they eventually lost the final to Cote d’Ivoire.

The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and Bafana Bafana of South Africa are also up for the award of men’s national team of the year.

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Super Falcons are among the two African teams that qualified for the women’s football event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The team trounced Cape Verde 7-1 on aggregate to book the ticket.

However, the Falcons were drawn into a tough group with Spain, Brazil, and Japan. The team lost all three games in the competition and scored just one goal.

EDO QUEENS FOR WOMEN’S CLUB OF THE YEAR

Edo Queens had a storied debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League campaign.

The Queens became the first Nigerian team to progress beyond the competition’s group stage after defeating Mamelodi Sundown in their final group game.

However, the team lost to TP Mazembe in the semi-final. The girls were also beaten in the third-place match by FC Masar of Egypt.