Nigeria’s rising football talents, Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, have earned places on the 10-player shortlist for the 2026 CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
Sports247 reports that the nominations represent another positive moment for Nigerian women’s football, with two young players receiving continental recognition for their performances and growing influence in the game.
Akekoromowei and Adegbuyi will now compete against eight other promising African talents for one of the continent’s major individual honours, as CAF prepares to recognise the next generation of women’s football stars.
The complete list of nominees features players from nine African countries, highlighting the growing depth of young talent across the continent.
The 10 nominees are:
1. Romaine Gandonou – Benin
2. Maëva Nyandjou – Cameroon
3. Grace-Ruth Servy – Côte d’Ivoire
4. N’Sira Ouédraogo – Côte d’Ivoire
5. Rose Kadzere – Malawi
6. Kautar Azraf – Morocco
7. Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei – (Nigeria)
8. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi – (Nigeria)
9. Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
10. Winfrida Gerald – Tanzania
Nigeria’s double representation in the category underlines the country’s continued presence in the development of emerging women’s football talent.
For Akekoromowei and Adegbuyi, making the shortlist is a significant achievement and an opportunity to gain further recognition on the African stage.
With competition coming from some of the continent’s most promising young players, the race for the award is expected to attract considerable attention.
The big question now is whether one of Nigeria’s two nominees will emerge as the 2026 CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year.
