IFFHS named Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Evelyn Badu, Yusif Basigi, Bruce Mwape and Bernadette Kwimbira on the list of individuals that had stellar year in Africa women’s football.
International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) on Monday released its continental awards for women’s football.
Asisat Oshoala is named the best Women’s Player in Africa for the year 2021 after an impressive season with FC Barcelona Femeni. The Nigerian forward ended last season with 18 goals in 26 games in the league and had 11 in nine by the end of November this season. Add that to important Champions League goals in both legs against Manchester City this season and another against former club Arsenal more recently.
After reaching six finals and winning five of it for Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana, losing only the CAF Women’s Champions League to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, coach Yusif Basigi is voted the best club manager of the year.
Evelyn Badu bagged double after being named the best playmaker and best youth player on the continent. The 19-year-old had a stellar year winning five trophies with Hasaacas Ladies and several individual awards.
The rising star finished as the topscorer at the CAF Champions League, Player of the tournament and also won the Ghana web player of the year.
For qualifying Zambia for the Olympics for the first time, coach Bruce Mwape won the best national coach. During the African qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics, they defeated Cameroon in the final round and also produced some impressive moment in their Olympic debut.
After being selected by IFFHS as the seventh-best in the world, Super Falcons of Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been named the best goalkeeper in Africa.
The rankings of the goalkeepers were for an aggregate of 2021 taking into consideration performances for their club and country, in which the Paris FC star fit perfectly.
Bernadette Kwimbira-Nzika has been named the best female referee in Africa.
She was among the selected elite referees that officiated at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games football tournament.
The Zomba-based assistant referee made history by becoming the first woman to officiate at a CAF men’s senior tournament during the African Nations Championship (Chan) finals.
She has also been selected to officiate at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Kwimbira-Nzika has previously officiated at the 2019 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cups and five Africa Women’s Cup of Nations finals.
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