2023 CAF Awards: Deborah Abiodun inches closer to Young Player of the Year gong

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria midfielder, Deborah Abiodun has made the final three shortlist for the 2023 CAF Awards.

Abiodun was nominated for the Young Player of the Year in the women’s category.

This development means that the University of Pittsburgh midfielder is only Nigeria’s remaining player on the shortlist after Opeyemi Ajakaye missed out on the final three.

Abiodun had recently returned to the Super Falcons squad after serving her suspension at the World Cup due to a red card against Canada.

She played a full 90 minutes during the team’s two-legged 7-1 aggregate win over Cape Verde which sealed the nine-time African champions’ qualification for the 2023 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Abiodun will contend with Ghana and Ampem Darkoa player, Comfot Yeboah.

Yeboah scored two goals with an own goal as her club reached the semi-final of the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast.

Another player Abiodun will have to wrestle with for the award is Moroccan international Nesryne El Chad.

The winner of the award will be announced on December 11, 2023, in Morocco.