Kitara FC’s Denis Omedi has earned global recognition for his extraordinary Rabona against KCCA FC now nominated for the prestigious CAF Goal of the Year Award.
Omedi’s unforgettable moment of brilliance in Ugandan football has earned him a spot in the 2024 CAF Goal of the Year shortlist, just days after being nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award for the same stunning goal.
The Royal’s forward breathtaking rabona against KCCA FC during the FUFA Super 8 earlier this year is now being recognized as one of the best goals scored in CAF competitions from January to October 2024.
Omedi’s goal, widely regarded as one of the greatest in Ugandan football history, came in the midst of a heated quarter-final encounter.
After KCCA’s Joel Sserunjogi had given the home side the lead with a spectacular long-range strike, Omedi responded with a moment of magic.
Positioned on the edge of the penalty area, the Kitara striker expertly controlled the ball with his weaker left foot and executed a flawless rabona that sailed past KCCA goalkeeper Anthony Emojong, finding the top corner of the net to level the score at 1-1.
The match ended in a hard-fought 3-3 draw, with Kitara advancing to the semifinals on a 4-3 aggregate. Omedi’s goal became an instant classic, widely praised for its technical brilliance and audacity.
CAF unveiled the 11 nominees for the 2024 Goal of the Year Award, with Omedi’s stunning strike now competing alongside some of the continent’s finest talent.
The shortlist, curated by an expert CAF Technical Panel, features goals scored in various CAF competitions from the past year, showcasing the incredible skill and creativity across Africa’s footballing landscape.
The public now has the chance to vote for their favourite goal via CAF’s dedicated platform, with voting open from Sunday until Thursday, 12 December 2024.
Fans’ votes will account for 70% of the total score, with the remaining 30% determined by the selections of CAF’s Technical Experts.
This fan-inclusive category is one of the few awards where supporters have the power to influence the outcome, making the voting process all the more exciting.
The winner will be announced during the glitzy CAF Awards Gala on Monday, 16 December 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Omedi’s nomination comes just a few days after he was named one of the contenders for the 2024 FIFA Puskás Award, which recognizes the best goal scored worldwide.
The double nomination is a testament to the Kitara forward’s remarkable talent and his growing international recognition.
The full list of nominees for the CAF Goal of the Year 2024;-
- Abdul Aziz Issah (Dreams FC) – Dreams FC vs APC Lobito (TotalEnergies CAFCC)
- Aboubakary Koita (Mauritania) – Mauritania vs Angola (TotalEnergies AFCON 2023)
- Denis Omedi (Kitara FC) – Kitara FC vs KCCA FC (FUFA Super 8)
- Ibrahim Adel (Egypt) – Mauritania vs Egypt (TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 Qualifiers)
- Kevin Pina (Cape Verde) – Cape Verde vs Mozambique (TotalEnergies AFCON 2023)
- Cristovao Mabululu (Angola) – Angola vs Namibia (TotalEnergies AFCON 2023)
- Nene Dorgeles (Mali) – Mali vs Côte d’Ivoire (TotalEnergies AFCON 2023)
- Saïd Benrahma (Algeria) – Algeria vs Togo (TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 Qualifiers)
- Sébastien Haller (Côte d’Ivoire) – Nigeria vs Côte d’Ivoire (TotalEnergies AFCON 2023)
- Wessam Abou Ali (Al Ahly) – Al Ahly vs TP Mazembe (TotalEnergies CAFCL)
- Yassine Benzia (Algeria) – Algeria vs South Africa (FIFA Series 2024 Algeria)
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