Banyana Banyana have bagged three nominations at the upcoming 2026 CAF Awards scheduled to be held next month (Monday, 7 December 2026) in Nigeria.
This comes after CAF released the shortlist of various nomination categories on Tuesday. Banyana Banyana have been named in the National Team of the Year (Women) category and will compete against the likes of Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco and Cameroon, among others.
South Africa lifted this trophy in 2019 and in 2022.
CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
- South Africa
- Algeria
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- Malawi
- Mali
- Morocco
- Nigeria
Kaylin Swart will contest the Goalkeeper of the Year award, and will be going up against, among others, Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi, Mercy Sikelo of Malawi as well as Zambia’s Hazel Nali.
CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees:
- Kaylin Swart – South Africa
- Chloe N’Gazi – Algeria
- Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
- Cynthia Konlan – Ghana
- Mercy Sikelo – Malawi
- Fatoumata Karantao – Mali
- Khadija Er-Rmichi – Morocco
- Christiana Uzoma – Nigeria
- Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
- Hazel Nali – Zambia
Mexico-based forward, Thembi Kgatlana has been included in the big one, the Player of the Year, an award she won back in 2019 in Dakar, Senegal. This is perhaps one of the most difficult categories to pick a winner which has the Chawinga sisters from Malawi, Tabitha and Temwa, as well as Babra Banda of Zambia, Ghana’s Portia Boakye and Marie Ngah Manga of Cameroon, among others.
CAF Player of the Year Nominees:
- Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa
- Marine Dafeur – Algeria
- Marie Ngah Manga – Cameroon
- Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
- Monique Ngock – Cameroon
- Portia Boakye – Ghana
- Tabitha Chawinga – Malawi
- Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
- Hanane Aït El Haj – Morocco
- Barbra Banda – Zambia
With the awards coming up in December, Banyana Banyana will first have to deal with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-offs that will be held from 28 November to 6 December in Rabat, Morocco. Dr Desiree Ellis’ charges are among the six nations featuring at the mini-tournament and South Africa will take on Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan.
The top two countries at the Playoffs will advance to the final phase in February 2027, with only three qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.