Former Super Falcons assistant coach Mansur Abdullahi has offered a more cautious assessment of Rasheedat Ajibade’s chances ahead of tonight’s CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, insisting that the race is far more complex than many Nigerian fans believe.
Abdullahi, who worked closely with Ajibade during her early national team development, acknowledged her brilliant WAFCON campaign — including her Player of the Tournament honour — but stressed that CAF’s top award goes beyond national team success, with club performance carrying heavy influence in the final voting.
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He noted that while Ajibade shone brightly in Morocco and played a leading role in Nigeria’s march to an 11th continental crown, the competition includes players whose European club seasons were statistically stronger, more visible, and played in leagues considered more competitive. According to him, awards of this magnitude are rarely decided by a single tournament, no matter how spectacular the performance.
Abdullahi was quick to clarify that his position is not a criticism of Ajibade, emphasising his long-standing admiration for her professionalism, discipline, and evolution into a true leader of the national team. He reminded Nigerians that he has closely followed her journey from teenage prodigy to Super Falcons captain, and that his comments come from a place of realism rather than sentiment.
He warned that public expectations must be moderated to avoid unnecessary backlash should the award go elsewhere. “A CAF award is about balance — club, country, consistency and continental impact,” he explained. “Ajibade has had a fantastic year, but so have her competitors.”
Abdullahi concluded by stating that regardless of the outcome, Ajibade remains the face of the new Super Falcons era — a player whose growth, mentality and leadership will define Nigerian women’s football for years to come.
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