By John Essien
Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has made the final shortlist for the CAF Women Footballer of the Year award.
The Nigerian international who is in the hunt for a fifth crown faces stiff opposition from Cameroon Ajara Nchout Njoya and new entrant Grace Chanda of Zambia for the Women’s category.
The four-time winner of the award was ruled out of the WAFCON tournament in Morocco after she picked up an injury during Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to South Africa in their first Group C fixture in Rabat.
Prior to the tournament, she had been battling with various issues for the better part of the 2021-22 campaign – which ruled her out of many matches.
It now remains to be seen if the Barcelona forward can eclipse the record set by compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha by picking the award for a fifth time in succession.
In the men’s category, former winners’ Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane of Egypt and Senegal will have to battle it out with Senegal shot stopper Edouard Mendy, also a new comer in the three-man list.
The Awards will be held in Rabat, Morocco on 21 July 2022 at 20h00 local time. (19h00 GMT).
Full list of top 3 nominees (in alphabetical order);
Player of the Year (Women)
Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon & Internazionale Milano)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)
Grace Chanda (Zambia & BIIK Kazygurt)
Player of the Year (Men)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal & Chelsea)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Bayern Munich)
