WAFCON: Ajibade named best player as Nnadozie claims goalkeeper award

Rasheedat Ajibade has been named the best player of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament following Nigeria’s title triumph on Saturday night.

The Super Falcons captain led the team to a 3-2 comeback win, and her performance throughout the tournament has earned the 25-year-old Atletico Madrid forward the best player award.

Ajibade contributed one goal and two assists in the tournament, but her overall performance in matches was what ultimately pushed Nigeria over the line. She was instrumental in dismantling Tunisia in the opening match and was named in the team of the group stage.

The captain, nicknamed “The girl with the blue hair,” won three consecutive woman of the match awards against Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa, respectively.

The Lagos-born player, who was the highest goalscorer at WAFCON 2022, also showed her leadership qualities in Morocco throughout the tournament.

She sacrificed her forward role to become an attacking force from midfield, and allowed Esther Okoronkwo to take and convert the penalty that started the comeback, before the AFC Toronto player went on to provide the assist for the winner.

Ajibade, a former youth international and WAFCON 2018 winner, has scored 20 goals since breaking into the Super Falcons setup in 2018.

Similarly, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Falcons’ safe hands in goal, won the goalkeeper of the tournament award, while the Nigerian team was awarded the Fair Play award.