Six Nigerian footballers made the 2024 CAF Men’s and Women’s XI during the annual CAF Awards held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday, December 16. The Super Falcons quartet—Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Asisat Oshoala—were named in the CAF Women’s XI, while Super Eagles duo Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen were recognized in the men’s team.
Alozie and Ohale were selected for the three-player defense in the women’s XI, while Osimhen, the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, joined Lookman in a formidable front three on the men’s team.
Although Rasheedat Ajibade was among the nominees for Women’s Player of the Year, Oshoala, Alozie, and Ohale earned spots in the team of the year due to their standout performances for both club and country throughout the year.
Even though Osimhen wasn’t nominated for this year’s Player of the Year award, his consistent excellence at both the club and international level has been widely recognized.
The men’s team included Andre Onana from Manchester United and Cameroon in goal, with Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly, and DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba forming a strong defensive trio. The midfield consisted of Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus, Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat, Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessie, and Mali’s Yves Bissouma, while Egypt’s Mohamed Salah completed the attack alongside Lookman and Osimhen.
In the women’s XI, Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won the award for the best female goalkeeper on the continent, was overlooked in favor of South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Alongside Ohale and Alozie in defense was another South African, Karabo Dhlamini. The rest of the women’s lineup included South African players Lebohang Ramalepe and Linda Mothalo, as well as Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.
