CAF Awards: Esther Okoronkwo should win, so why is she being robbed of glory?

Esther Okoronkwo’s exclusion from the final shortlist for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award is nothing short of bewildering.

In a season where she was not just consistent but decisive in every competition she featured in, the Nigeria forward built a résumé strong enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the eventual finalists. Yet, when CAF released the final three, her name was absent, a glaring omission that has left fans and pundits alike shaking their heads.

Across 29 appearances this season, Okoronkwo scored 13 goals and provided 15 assists, numbers that placed her among the continent’s most productive players. She helped AFC Toronto lift the NSL 2025 Shield and finished as the league’s top assist provider. 

On the international stage, her influence was just as potent. At WAFCON 2024, the 28-year-old had seven assists, scored twice, and picked up two Player of the Match awards, leading Nigeria's Super Falcons to reclaim the continental crown. These are not just statistics, they are the marks of a player in total command of her craft.

Bias and politics at play over Esther Okoronkwo’s omission

Esther Okoronkwo’s stellar season has been swept under the carpet by CAF. Her ability to dictate games, create chances out of nothing, and combine goal-scoring with creative brilliance was ignored in favour of Rasheedat Ajibade, Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak, and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR. 

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 (𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻) – 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀#CAFAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/AHtzjLwwVL

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 16, 2025

While the trio had strong campaigns, the decision to leave out a player who dominated domestically, delivered internationally, and consistently impacted matches cannot be separated from the politics that surround CAF awards.

It’s no secret that CAF’s awards have long been influenced by relationships and agendas, and this edition appears no different. Morocco’s close ties with the Confederation, coupled with certain journalists pushing narratives that favour their players, have cast a long shadow over what should have been a merit-based decision. 

This act shows us that the award is less about who played best and more about who is favoured in the corridors of African football power.