South African players, teams dominate CAF Awards nominations

Seven South African people and three local teams have been nominated in various categories for the 2023 CAF Awards set to take place on Monday, 11 December in Marrakesh, Morocco.

THE LOWDOWN ON THE CAF AWARDS

In women’s categories, Thembi Kgatlana has made the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year gong. Meanwhile, Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis will vie with Sundowns Ladies head coach Jerry Tshabalala in the Women’s Coach of the Year category after both were nominated.

Banyana and Sundowns Ladies shot stopper Andile Dlamini made the final three nominees in the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

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Sundowns Ladies and Banyana star Lebohang Ramalepe and her club teammate Refilwe Tholakele have been nominated in the CAF Interclub Women’s Player of the Year category.

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On the male side, Percy Tau is up for the CAF Awards Interclub Player of the Year.

There were also just reward for several South African teams, with Banyana Banyana, Mamelodi Sundowns and the Sundowns Ladies all scooping nominations.

Banyana have been nominated among the Women’s National Team of the Year after their heroics at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, bringing the trophy back to South Africa for the very first time, before writing more history at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where they reached the knockout stages for the first time in history.

Mamelodi Sundowns are among the final three male teams in the Club of the Year award and the Sundowns Ladies have been nominated in the CAF Women’s Club of the Year category.

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SOUTH AFRICAN DOMINANCE IN AWARDS SHORTLISTS

Player of the Year (Men)

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women)

• Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
• Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
• Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men)

• Fiston Mayele (DR Congo, Pyramids)
• Peter Shalulile (Namibia, Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women)

• Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
• Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Coach of the Year (Men)

• Abdelhak Benchika (Algeria, Simba SC)
• Walid Regragui (Morocco)
• Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

Coach of the Year (Women)

• Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
• Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
• Jerry Tshabalala (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)

• Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)
• Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly)
• Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)

• Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
• Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
• Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Young Player of the Year (Men)

• Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco, Real Betis)
• Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)
• Amara Diouf (Senegal, Metz)

Young Player of the Year (Women)

• Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
• Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
• Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburgh Panthers)

National Team of the Year (Men)

• Gambia
• Morocco
• Senegal

National Team of the Year (Women)

• Morocco
• Nigeria
• South Africa (Banyana Banyana)

Club of the Year (Men)

• Al Ahly (Egypt)
• Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Club of the Year (Women)

• AS FAR (Morocco)
• Sporting Casablanca (Morocco)
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)