WAFCON 2026 Player of the Tournament: 6 frontrunners including Nigeria & Morocco stars

The race for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Player of the Tournament award will be an exciting one to watch in Morocco, Afrik-Foot reports.

The prestigious CAF prize is given to the player who has the greatest overall impact on the tournament through goals, assists, leadership and match-winning performances. Since it was first introduced in 2004, African football legends such as Perpetua Nkwocha, Genoveva Añonma, Asisat Oshoala, Thembi Kgatlana, Ghizlane Chebbak and Rasheedat Ajibade have all claimed the honour.

Nigeria remain the most successful nation in the history of the award. Nkwocha won it three times (2004, 2006 and 2008), while Stella Mbachu (2010), Oshoala (2014) and Ajibade (2024) also claimed the top individual prize. Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak won it in 2022 after leading the Atlas Lionesses to their first-ever final.

Now, with the tournament running in Morocco until August 16, another battle is beginning. Several established stars arrive in outstanding form, while others are hoping to write history for their countries. Here are six players who look best placed to become WAFCON 2026’s best player.

Top contenders: WAFCON 2026 Best Player award

Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria)

Few players arrive in Morocco with stronger credentials than Rasheedat Ajibade. The Super Falcons captain is the defending Player of the Tournament after inspiring Nigeria to a record-extending 10th WAFCON title in the previous edition. During that campaign, she won three Woman of the Match awards and consistently delivered when Nigeria needed her most.

Ajibade has become the emotional leader of Justin Madugu’s squad. Whether playing on the wing or behind the striker, she combines relentless pressing with creativity and an eye for goal.

Nigeria’s opening Group C match against Malawi on July 28 will immediately test her leadership as the Falcons begin their quest for an 11th African title. If Ajibade can produce another tournament filled with goals, assists and decisive performances in the knockout rounds, she could become one of the few players in history to win consecutive WAFCON MVP awards.

Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco)

Playing at home gives Ghizlane Chebbak another chance to make history. The 35-year-old captain is already one of Morocco’s greatest footballers. She led the Atlas Lionesses to their first WAFCON final in 2022, winning the tournament’s Player of the Tournament award while also finishing among the top scorers.

She followed that by claiming another Golden Boot last year after scoring five goals in six matches, including a memorable hat-trick against DR Congo. Chebbak also arrives as the reigning CAF Women’s Player of the Year.

Morocco will once again enjoy passionate support from home fans in cities including Rabat and Casablanca. If the hosts reach another final, Chebbak’s influence in midfield, her set-piece quality and her ability to score important goals could make her the leading candidate for another MVP crown.

Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria)

Esther Okoronkwo could be the player who drives Nigeria’s attack throughout the tournament. The AFC Toronto forward enjoyed a remarkable comeback after missing the 2022 competition because of an ACL injury. She returned to become one of the stars of Nigeria’s title-winning campaign.

Her greatest moment came in the dramatic final against Morocco. After Nigeria fell 2-0 behind, Okoronkwo scored from the penalty spot, set up Folashade Ijamilusi for the equaliser and delivered the dangerous free-kick that led to Jennifer Echegini’s late winner in the unforgettable 3-2 victory. She also finished the tournament with six assists, more than any other player, and earned the Fans’ Player of the Tournament award.

Okoronkwo arrives in Morocco after another impressive club season in Canada, where she established herself as one of the league’s top creators. If she continues producing goals and assists while linking Nigeria’s attack, she has every chance of adding CAF’s biggest individual prize to her growing list of achievements.

Barbra Banda (Zambia)

Whenever Barbra Banda steps onto the pitch, defenders know they are facing the most dangerous African forward in the world. The Zambia captain enters WAFCON after another outstanding season with Orlando Pride, where she scored 12 goals and added one assist in just 15 league matches.

Banda missed the 2022 tournament because of CAF’s gender eligibility regulations and was tamed by Nigeria as Zambia crashed in the knockout stages last edition. Known for her explosive pace, physical strength and powerful finishing, she will once again be a handful in Morocco. Her partnership with Racheal Kundananji gives Zambia one of the tournament’s most feared attacks and an outsider’s chance to win lift the trophy.

The Copper Queens face a difficult Group C that includes Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi, meaning Banda will need to deliver from the opening game against Egypt. If she fires Zambia into the final with goals against the continent’s strongest teams, she could emerge as the standout player of the entire tournament.

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa)

Experience, quality and unfinished business make Thembi Kgatlana a strong contender. The South African forward previously won both the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards in 2018 after scoring five goals and leading Banyana Banyana to the final.

Her 2022 campaign ended painfully when she suffered an Achilles injury during the group stage, missing the rest of the tournament as South Africa went on to win their first WAFCON title.

Now fully fit, Kgatlana returns with added experience from club football at Tigres UANL in Mexico. She remains South Africa’s biggest attacking threat, capable of changing games with her pace, movement and clinical finishing.

Banyana Banyana begin their campaign against Tanzania in Group B, and another strong tournament from Kgatlana could see her reclaim the individual award she first won eight years ago.

Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi)

No player arrives with more to prove than Tabitha Chawinga. The Malawi captain will be making her WAFCON debut after helping the Scorchers qualify for the tournament for the first time in their history.

Although she has never played at the competition before, Chawinga has built a world-class reputation through her club career in Sweden, China, Italy and France. She also helped OL Lyon compete for major honours in Europe. Her partnership with younger sister Temwa Chawinga, one of the NWSL’s biggest stars, gives Malawi genuine attacking quality despite being tournament newcomers.

Malawi’s first match comes against defending champions Nigeria, providing Chawinga with an immediate opportunity to show why she is regarded as one of Africa’s finest. If she inspires the Scorchers to upset established powers and reach the knockout rounds, her debut could become one of the greatest individual WAFCON performances ever seen.