Esther Okoronkwo Slams CAF After Shock Omission From Women’s Player of the Year Final Shortlist

Nigerian forward Esther Okoronkwo has voiced her anger and disappointment after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) excluded her from the final shortlist for the 2025 Women’s Player of the Year award.

Okoronkwo, who was initially listed among the top 10 nominees, did not make the final three, a decision that has raised eyebrows across the continent.
The final shortlist features Rasheedat Ajibade, as well as Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy.

For many football followers, Okoronkwo’s omission is baffling considering her outstanding year for both Nigeria and AFC Toronto.

At the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, she contributed one goal and six assists, proving instrumental in Nigeria’s attacking play.
At club level, she was a standout performer—helping AFC Toronto lift the league’s inaugural NSL Shield in September, a historic achievement for the club.

Feeling overlooked, Okoronkwo took to Instagram to express her frustration in a firm but dignified message:

“I remain grateful for the support across Africa. CAF’s decision is noted, but my focus stays on the pitch where recognition is earned, not awarded.

Awards don’t always reflect reality, but the pitch never lies.”

Opinion: CAF’s Snub of Okoronkwo Raises Questions — and Reminds Us Why Players Trust the Pitch, Not Politics

Esther Okoronkwo’s omission is not just surprising—it sparks a larger conversation about how award decisions are made in African football.

When a player delivers consistently at both international and club level, contributes decisively in major tournaments, lifts trophies, and becomes a creative engine for her team, one would expect that performance to speak for itself. And in Okoronkwo’s case, the numbers and accomplishments do speak—loudly.

Yet, the final shortlist left her out.

Her response, however, shows maturity and a deep understanding of the sport:
that footballers win their respect on the grass, not from panels or ceremonies.

Her line—“the pitch never lies”—captures a truth many athletes feel when award selections seem out of sync with reality.

Whether or not CAF reconsiders its criteria in the future, one thing is clear:
Esther Okoronkwo has already earned her place among Africa’s finest, with or without a trophy to show for it.

And sometimes, the greatest statement a player can make is not a complaint—but a performance.