Nigeria Players Abroad
CAF Young Player of the Year shortlist excites Deborah Abiodun
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria midfielder, Deborah Abiodun is on cloud nine after being short-listed for the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year award.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a shortlist of five young talents for the award on Monday, which include Abiodun (Nigeria), Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Nigeria), Comfort Yeboah (Ghana), Nesryne El Chad (Morocco), and Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa).
The University of Pittsburgh midfielder took to her X handle (formerly Twitter handle) to show her how happy and elated she was with her short-listed nomination.
“I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to make the final shortlist for the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year (Women) award! 🌟 Grateful for this incredible recognition and amazing support. Thanks to everyone who has been part of this journey! #CAFAwards2023,” she posted.
At club level, Abiodun in her debut season with the Pitts secured a spot on both the All-ACC Third Team and the All-ACC Freshman Team.
The Super Falcons midfielder was the third Pitt player named to the All-ACC Freshman Team, joining Katie Zailski (2022) and West (2019).
The former Rivers Angels captain was ranked in the top 10 in the ACC for shot accuracy (0.500).
She was part of the Nigerian U-20 side that reached the quarter-final of the 2022 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup.
Afterward, she represented Nigeria’s senior women’s national team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Her debut World Cup appearance wasn’t a palatable one after receiving a straight red card for a tackle during the opener against Olympic champions, Canada.
Irrespective of the outcome, she had announced herself as one of the best youngsters from the continent.
