Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala has been named the best women’s football player in Africa for 2017.
Oshoala won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award at the Aiteo CAF Awards 2017, held on Thursday, 4 January 2018, at the International Conference Centre in Accra, Ghana
The 23 years old Dalian Quanjian FC attacker after dusted Cameroon’s Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and South Africa’s Chrestina Kgatlana.
The former Arsenal Ladies and Liverpool Ladies inspired her Chinese side Dalian Quanjian to a double with 19 goals.
Oshoala led Dalian Quanjian to the Chinese Women’s Super League championship, the club’s second title in their history. She will be hoping to lead Nigeria to an eighth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, as qualifying for Africa runs between 17 November and 1 December in Ghana.
“2017 has truly been an emotional journey for me,” said Oshoala, who won the award for a record third time. “This is truly one of the best moments in my career. I want to encourage young girls out there to not let people discourage you and to follow your own heart.”
Taking home the women’s national team of the year award was South Africa’s senior side. The club of the year award went to FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 participants Wydad Casablanca.
Full Awards
African Player of the Year
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Women’s Player of the Year
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian)
Youth Player of the Year
Patson Daka (Zambia & Liefering)
Coach of the Year
Hector Cuper (Egypt)
Club of the Year
Wydad Athletic Club
National Team of the Year
Egypt
Women’s National Team of the Year
South Africa
Legend
Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana)
Platinum Award
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo – President of Ghana
George Weah – President-elect of Liberia & former World, Africa and European Player of the Year
African Best XI
Goalkeepers: Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly), Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester United), Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly)
Midfielders: Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord), Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly), Achraf
Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
Forwards: Khalid Boutaib (Morocco & Yeni Malatyaspor), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance)
