Asisat Oshoala, Kgatlana, Banda – CAF Awards Player of the Year final three

Asisat Oshoala, Kgatlana, Banda – CAF Awards Player of the Year final three
Photo by Icon sport

Asisat Oshoala could notch another award after being shortlisted for the final three for the CAF Women's Player of the Year.

The Super Falcons star has been in sensational form over the years for Barcelona and Nigeria's women's national team. She had just been nominated for the Player of the Year award as well.

Asisat Oshoala has been a mainstay of the Super Falcons over the years. Her goals have been instrumental to the many victories her teams enjoyed, and it would be another feather to her cap if she wins.

However, Asisat Oshoala has competition from two quarters as she seeks a sixth award.

She has competition from South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana and Zambian captain Barbara Banda.

Why Asisat Oshoala should nick her sixth CAF award

Asisat Oshoala looking for her third consecutive caf award
Photo by Icon sport

Asisat Oshoala was part of the Super Falcons squad that reached the quarter-finals at the FIFA Women's World Cup earlier this year.

She scored a goal as Nigeria went unbeaten in every game till their penalty shootout loss to eventual finalists England.

Asisat Oshoala, who has a foundation that empowers female footballers in Africa, was instrumental in Barcelona's treble-winning season.

She helped the Barcelona women's team win Primera División, UEFA Women's Champions League and the Supercopa de España Femenina.

She was also the only African woman in the top 20 of the FIFA Ballon d'Or rankings. She finished 20th in the awards.

Asisat Oshoala is seeking to become the first African woman to win the award three times consecutively.

Thembi Kgatlana seeks to stop Asisat Oshoala's hat-trick

kgatlana in the running for her second caf award at asisat oshoala expense
Photo: by Icon Sport

Thembi Kgatlana is a former CAF Women's Player of the Year winner. She won the award in 2018 when she stopped the Nigerian forward from winning for the third time.

She has had a solid year and looks a bright prospect to win it again. Kgatlana scored two goals as Bayana Banyana reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women's World Cup this year.

The Racing Louisville striker, who has 23 goals for Banyana Banyana, could do nothing to stop the Netherlands from knocking them out.

Can she stop Asisat Oshoala who has been a consistent goal scorer for Barcelona Femeni this season, from completing her treble for the second time?

Barbara Banda is in the running for her first CAF award

barbara banda goes head to head with asisat oshoala for caf award
Credit @chongomedley Twitter

Barbara Banda is the dark horse in the race for the CAF Women's Player of the Year.

The 23-year-old forward has been instrumental to the progress of the Zambian women's national team as they qualified for the World Cup this year.

Zambia failed to make it beyond the group stage, but she made an impression despite losing their first two matches to Japan and Spain.

She scored from the penalty spot in Zambia's 3-1 win over Costa Rica.

The credentials of Asisat Oshoala and Kgatlana are daunting, but Banda could still spring a surprise at the awards.

So, will Asisat Oshoala win her sixth title, or will she be denied again by Kgatlana?

This article was most recently revised and updated 9 months ago

Chooka Izuegbuna
Chooka Izuegbuna is a Sports Journalist with 20 years of experience in print, TV and Radio. He has worked with some of the top media houses in Nigeria, including NTA Network, Channels TV, TVC, Silverbird TV and MITV. Chooka broke his sports reporting teeth with The Game Football Weekly in 2003 as a cartoonist and reporter. Chooka has a passion for football and has been a fan of Enugu Rangers (over 30 years) and Real Madrid (Since 1996).
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