Esther Okoronkwo’s season reads like the kind of campaign that normally walks straight into a continental best-player shortlist.
Goals, assists, trophies, clutch moments, leadership, a WAFCON medal, big-game influence — she ticked every box that should matter, Footballrover reports.
A Year That Should Have Been Enough for Esther Okoronkwo
Yet, when CAF unveiled the final three nominees for the 2025 Women’s Player of the Year award, her name was missing. For many Nigerian fans, it wasn’t just a surprise—it felt like a jolt.
Okoronkwo’s numbers were ridiculous by any standard: 27 goal contributions in 29 matches, the driving force behind her club’s league success, and a key figure in Nigeria’s run to a record-extending WAFCON crown.
She scored in the final, created another, dictated the tempo of the biggest match on the continent, and walked home with the Woman of the Match award.
This was a year she didn’t just perform—she dominated.
That’s why the omission stings. Because this wasn’t a “good year”. It was the kind of campaign that normally shapes legacy conversations.
Instead, as CAF unveiled the final three — Rasheedat Ajibade, Ghizlane Chebbak, and Sanaa Mssoudy — Okoronkwo’s absence echoed louder than the names that made it.
Her response on Instagram was graceful but pointed:
“I remain grateful for the support across Africa. CAF’s decision is noted, but my focus stays on the pitch where recognition is earned, not awarded. Awards don’t always reflect reality, but the pitch never lies.”
It was the statement of someone who knows what she delivered, even if the spotlight didn’t follow.
A Ceremony That Will Still Have a Strong Nigerian Presence
While Okoronkwo didn’t make the final cut, Nigerian football won’t be walking into Rabat quietly. Across multiple categories, the country still boasts one of its strongest-ever representations.
Victor Osimhen returns to the final three for the men’s Player of the Year award, joining Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi.
The Galatasaray forward fired his club to a domestic double and carried his ruthless edge into Europe. Nigeria’s last winner in this category was Ademola Lookman; Osimhen stands on the brink of reclaiming the crown he won in 2023.
Rasheedat Ajibade, Okoronkwo’s teammate and captain at WAFCON, earned her place on the women’s shortlist after a stellar tournament — three Woman of the Match awards, complete midfield authority, and the Best Player accolade.
In goal, Chiamaka Nnadozie once again represents the standard. Calm, commanding, and consistent, she joins Khadija Er-Rmichi and Andile Dlamini in the final goalkeeping shortlist.
Another reminder that Nigeria continues to produce elite shot-stoppers.
The youth category features a rising star in Shakirat Moshood, the Flamingos captain whose leadership and performances have put her on the continent’s radar.
Her nomination for CAF Young Player of the Year hints at a bright future.
The Super Falcons, after reclaiming the WAFCON title in style, also stand tall among the finalists for National Team of the Year.
But This Year’s Story Still Begins With Okoronkwo
Awards matter. Recognition matters. Being named among Africa’s best is supposed to celebrate more than numbers — it should reflect the impact a player had on the game.
By that measure, Okoronkwo’s year deserved a deeper look.
This wasn’t a player who padded her stats. She delivered when the lights were harshest. She carried responsibility when the margins were thin. She shaped matches with a maturity that belied the noise around her.
That’s why her exclusion hurts for many — because it wasn’t a case of “maybe next time.” It felt like a moment she had already earned.
Still, her season remains untouched. The trophies are real. The performances live in memory. The numbers sit boldly on the record.
And if her message is anything to go by, she is already preparing for the next challenge.
CAF will crown its winners on November 19 in Rabat. Nigeria will be represented across categories, celebrated for individual brilliance and collective excellence.
But when the lights dim and the ceremony ends, one truth will linger:
Esther Okoronkwo didn’t need a nomination to prove she belonged among Africa’s best.
She already showed it long before the shortlist was released — on the pitch, where the story always starts and never lies.
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