CAIRO – Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis on Friday was nominated for Confederation of African Football (Caf) coach of the year.
Ellis, a former national team striker, led South Africa to the final of the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations at the start of December. Although they lost out on penalties to Nigeria (whom they had beaten earlier in the tournament), their appearance in the final was enough to see them qualifying for a first-ever World Cup tournament, which will take place in France next year.
Two players from the Banyana squad – attacking midfielder Thembi Kgatlana and defender Janine Van Wyk, who both play their club football in the United States with Houston Dash, are on the 11-player shortlist for the Women's Player of the Year award.
Thembi Kgatlana (left) and her skipper Janine Van Wyk celebrate after their 2018 African Womens Cup of Nations semi-final win over Mali. The pair are both up for the player of the year award. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
The Banyana team is also up for the Women's National Team of the Year gong, along with Cameroon and Nigeria.
In the African Player of the Year men's category, the SA Premiership is represented by Ugandan and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who is one of only three African-based players on the 10-man list, which also includesMohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Alex Iwobi.
The Awards Gala, to honour footballers and officials who distinguished themselves during the year under review, will be held on January 8 in Dakar, Senegal
CAF Awards nominees:
African Player of the Year
1. Alex Iwobi (Nigeria & Arsenal)
2. Andre Onana (Cameroon & Ajax)
3. Anis Badri (Tunisia & Esperance)
4. Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
5. Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
6. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
7. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)
8. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
9. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
10. Walid Soliman (Egypt & Al Ahly)
Women's Player of the Year
1. Abdulai Mukarama (Ghana & Northern Ladies)
2. Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dilian Quanjian)
3. Bassira Toure (Mali & AS Mande)
4. Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Houston Dash)
5. Elizabeth Addo (Ghana & Seattle Reign)
6. Francisca Ordega (Nigeria & Washington Spirit)
7. Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene (Cameroon & CSKA Moskow)
8. Janine Van Wyk (South Africa & Houston Dash)
9. Onome Ebi (Nigeria & Hekan Huisanhang)
10. Raissa Feudjio (Cameroon & Aland United)
11. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi & Jiangsu Suning)
Youth Player of the Year
1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
2. Franck Kessie (Cote d'Ivoire & AC Milan)
3. Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria & Leicester City)
Men's Coach of the Year
1. Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
2. Herve Renard (Morocco)
3. Moine Chaabani (Esperance)
Women's Coach of the Year
1. Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
2. Joseph Brian Ndoko (Cameroon)
3. Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria)
Men's National Team of the Year
1. Madagascar
2. Mauritania
3. Uganda
Women's National Team of the Year
1. Cameroon
2. Nigeria
3. South Africa