Former Super Falcons forward Desire Oparanozie has expressed strong confidence that Nigeria will dominate the upcoming CAF Awards, following an impressive year for both the women’s national team and the country’s football as a whole.
Oparanozie, who represented Nigeria at multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups, said the nominations for several Super Falcons stars and coach Justin Madugu are a reflection of the team’s growth, consistency, and renewed fighting spirit on the African stage.
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“Nigeria deserves every recognition coming its way,” Oparanozie said in Lagos. “The Super Falcons showed great character at the FIFA World Cup, and it’s only fitting that players like Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, and Chiamaka Nnadozie are now being celebrated for their contributions. I honestly believe we can win all the awards we’ve been nominated for.”
The nominations include Ajibade for African Women’s Player of the Year, Nnadozie for Goalkeeper of the Year, Madugu for Coach of the Year, and the Super Falcons for Women’s National Team of the Year.
Oparanozie noted that the recognition reflects the steady progress Nigerian football has made under renewed leadership and structure from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
She added that the success of the women’s team also serves as motivation for the Super Eagles as they prepare for their FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs next month. “It’s all connected,” she said.
“When one team succeeds, it lifts the spirit of the entire football community. I hope the Super Eagles can feed off this energy and qualify for the World Cup.”
Oparanozie concluded by urging Nigerian football authorities to sustain the momentum by investing more in women’s football development. “The world now respects us,” she said. “This is the time to keep pushing — both for the CAF stage and the next FIFA World Cup.”
