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Grace Chingoma, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE’S Mighty Warriors, who made history by becoming the first local national football team to play at the Olympic Games, have been recognised for the second year running after they were short-listed among the five best sides on the continent.

The best women’s national team will be crowned on January 5, in Nigeria, during the Glo-CAF Awards.

There will be a strong Zimbabwean flavour at the Caf awards gala night after Warriors midfielder Khama Biliat was short-listed for the Best African Player (Based in Africa) category, an award he is heavily tipped to win.

Khama and his South African Premiership team, Mamelodi Sundowns, yesterday were also nominated in the Club of the Year category.

The Mighty Warriors have been short-listed together with other countries such as record Africa Women champions Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and neighbours South Africa.

They are the only team which did not qualify for the semis at AWCON.

Record African champions, Nigeria, romped to their eighth title when they beat hosts Cameroon 0-1 in Yaounde on December 3 and are the favourites to win the category.

Ghana won the third and fourth play-off after beating Banyana Banyana.

But the Mighty Warriors performance against the world heavyweights at the Summer Games charmed many with the minnows managing to score a goal in each of their games against Germany, Canada and Australia.

Last year, Zimbabwe who were nominated after qualifying for the Olympics and the AWCON and controversially lost the title to Cameroon who were named African’s best women soccer team.

Ironically, the Indomitable Lioness were denied a chance to qualify for the Olympic Games for the second time but were rewarded ahead of Zimbabwe.

However, the competition this time around will be tougher as the recently concluded CAF women’s tournament is likely to have a strong influence on the winner.

Other Categories

Women’s Player of the Year

Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria & Arsenal Ladies)

Elizabeth Addo (Ghana & Kvarnsvedensik)

Gabrielle ABOUDI ONGUENE (Cameroon & Rossiyanka)

Janine VAN WYK (South Africa & JVW)

Raissa FEUDJIO TCHUANYO (Cameroon & Aland United)

Most promising Talent

Elia MESCHAK (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)

Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nigeria & Manchester City)

Naby KEITA (Guinea & RB Leipzig)

Oghenekaro ETEBO (Nigeria & CD Feirense)

Ramadan SOBHI (Egypt & Stoke City)

Youth Player of the Year

Alex IWOBI (Nigeria & Arsenal)

Eric AYIAH (Ghana U-17)

Franck KESSIE (Cote d’Ivoire & Atalanta)

Sandra OWUSU-ANSAH (Ghana & Supreme Ladies)

Sidiki MAIGA (Mali U-20)

Coach of the Year

Florent Ibenge (DR Congo)

Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic (Uganda)

Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Nacer Sandjak (MO Bejaia)

Florence Omagbemi(Nigeria women’s national team)

Referee of the Year

Papa Gasama, Gambia

Grishea Gehead, Egypt

Malang Diedhiou, Senegal

Club of the Year

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

MO Bejaia (Algeria)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Zamalek (Egypt)

Zesco United (Zambia)

National Team of the Year

DR Congo

Guinea Bissau

Nigeria U-23

Senegal

Uganda

Women’s National Team of the Year

Cameroon

Ghana

Nigeria

South Africa

Zimbabwe