National Teams
CAF Awards: Deborah Abiodun and Opeyemi Ajakaye make YPOY shortlist
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria duo of Deborah Abiodun and Opeyemi Ajakaye have been shortlisted in the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year Award (Women).
Both players had fascinating year, representing Nigeria at the age grade tournaments and shined like bright stars.
Abiodun was part of the Falconets squad to the last U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica where she played elegant football and led the team to a quarter final finish.
She then, secured her first professional move outside the shores of the country to Pittsburgh University soccer team in the United States of America.
Abiodun’s phenomenal rise saw her made the Super Falcons squad to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the team reached the last 16 stage.
Ajakaye starred for Nigeria at the U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers as she emerged the highest goal scorer with six goals.
GOA, INDIA – OCTOBER 14: Opeyemi Ajakaye of Nigeria pictured with the ‘Player of the Match’ award after the Group B match between New Zealand and Nigeria of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 14, 2022 in Goa, India. (Photo by Matthew Lewis – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
She led the Flamingos to the U17 World Cup in India, where the team broke the Africa jinx to become the first country from the continent as the third place team in the tournament.
Ajakaye scored a goal and recorded one assist at the U17 World Cup and also won two Player of the Match award at the U17 mundial in style.
She has graduated to the Nigeria U20 team and starred at the WAFU-B U20 Women’s Cup in Ghana, where the Robo Queens won the topscorer with five goals.
And she has continued her impressive form in the ongoing 2024 U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, putting the country on cusp of qualifying for the finals in Colombia.
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