Uganda Crested Cranes strikers Fazila Ikwaput and Fauzia Najjemba have earned nominations in the prestigious 2023 CAF Awards reading them for their remarkable recognition of their exceptional prowess.
Najjemba’s performances have earned her a nomination in the Young Player of the Year (Women Category, while Ikwaput finds herself on the illustrious shortlist for the Player of the Year (Women) Category.
The unveiling of the preliminary nominees by CAF sets the stage for a celebration of excellence in women’s football.
A distinguished panel, comprising CAF Technical Experts, Legends, and select media representatives, meticulously assessed the players’ performances across all levels from December 2022 to November 2023.
Breaking new ground, the 2023 CAF Awards will introduce the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, recognizing the heroic efforts of shot-stoppers.
Ten exceptional players, vying for this inaugural honour, will add an exciting dimension to the ceremony.
Among the various categories, 30 outstanding players will compete for the highly coveted Player of the Year title, previously clinched by Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala in a historic fifth win at the last Awards Gala in July 2022.
Additionally, nominees have been revealed for the Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, and Young Player of the Year, with a stipulation that contenders must be under 21 years old.
The ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Cote d’Ivoire has further added a layer of excitement, as the finalists will automatically secure a spot in the Club of the Year category.
The winners across all categories will be determined through a voting process involving the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations, and clubs that participated in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.
Anticipation is building for the grand Awards Gala scheduled to take place on December 11, 2023, in the vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco.
The crème de la crème of African football will gather to honour and celebrate the exceptional talents that have illuminated the continent’s footballing landscape throughout the year.
Profiles
Name: Fauzia Najjemba
Date of birth: October 7, 2003
Clubs represented: Isra Academy, Kampala Queens, BIIK Shymkent (Kazakhstan), Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
Major tournaments: Cosafa U-17 2019, Cecafa U-17 2019, U-17 World Cup qualifiers 2020, U-20 World Cup qualifiers 2020 and 2022, Cecafa U-20 2021, Cosafa 2018, Olympic qualifiers 2019 and 2023, Cecafa 2019, Awcon qualifiers 2021 and 2023, Awcon 2022
Name: Fazila Ikwaput
Date of birth: September 15, 1995
Clubs represented: Olila HS, Gokulam Kerala (India), BIIK Kazygurt (Kazakhstan), Lady Doves
Major tournaments: Caf Women’s Champions League qualifiers 2021, Uefa Champions League 2018/19, Cecafa 2016, Cecafa 2019, Olympic qualifiers 2019 and 2023, Cecafa 2022, Awcon qualifiers 2023, Awcon 2022
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