Nigeria has recorded a complete shutout in the men’s categories of the upcoming CAF Awards, with no players, coaches, or clubs receiving nominations. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the shortlist for the seven men’s award categories, and notably, no Nigerian names appeared on the list.

The exclusion is particularly striking as it includes high-profile internationals such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Both players have maintained significant profiles in European football, with Lookman’s recent performances in continental club competitions often positioning him as a top candidate for African individual honours.

This lack of representation across all men’s categories—which include Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Goalkeeper of the Year—marks a departure from previous years where Nigerian talent frequently featured in the continental awards. No Nigerian goalkeeper, coach, club, or national team was included in the announcement.

Absence of prominent Super Eagles stars

The absence of Victor Osimhen is among the most unexpected elements for football observers. The striker, who has been a dominant force in African football and a mainstay in CAF-related recognitions due to his prolific scoring record in Europe, was widely expected to feature in the individual player nominations.

Similarly, Ademola Lookman, whose recent exploits for Atalanta have garnered widespread international attention, was considered a strong contender for the shortlist. The omission of these players, alongside other established Super Eagles stars, suggests a shift in the continental landscape or a lack of recognition for Nigerian players performing at the highest levels of the European game.

Beyond individual players, the list failed to include any Nigerian coaches or football clubs. This means the technical staff of the Super Eagles and any Nigerian-based or Nigerian-affiliated clubs have been omitted from the seven categories announced by the football’s governing body in Africa.

In previous award cycles, Nigeria has often been well-represented, reflecting the strength of the Super Eagles and the individual success of its diaspora players in top-flight leagues. The current shutout follows a period of mixed results for the national team in various continental competitions, though the individual form of its core players has frequently remained high.

While the men’s nominations have been finalised, CAF is expected to release the nominees for the women’s categories in the coming days. Observers are waiting to see if Nigerian players from the Super Falcons can secure representation in those honours.

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