Black Queens Earn CAF Awards Team of the Year Nomination

The Black Queens, Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, have earned a nomination for the Women’s National Team of the Year award at the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, following their impressive performances on the continental stage.

The nomination have positioned Ghana among the ten national teams shortlisted for one of African football’s prestigious honours, recognising their contributions and performances in international competitions over the past year.

The Black Queens will compete for the award alongside Algeria, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Under the guidance of head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, Ghana participated in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), hosted by Morocco. Although the team’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals following a 2-1 defeat to Malawi, their overall performances throughout the year have earned them continental recognition.

Despite missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Black Queens kept their qualification hopes alive by defeating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the African play-offs. The victory secured Ghana a place in the inter-confederation play-offs, scheduled to take place in Morocco later this month.
The team’s nomination is further strengthened by individual recognition for two of its key players. Captain Portia Boakye has been shortlisted for the Women’s Player of the Year award, while goalkeeper Cynthia Findiib Konlan is among the nominees for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category.
These nominations highlight the growing recognition of Ghanaian women’s football and the contributions of players who continue to represent the country at the highest level. The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 7, in Lagos, Nigeria. The event will bring together some of the continent’s finest football talents, coaches and teams to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievements in African football.

In a nutshell, the nomination represents an important milestone and an opportunity to further strengthen Ghana’s reputation in women’s football. As they prepare for the next stage of their World Cup qualification journey, the recognition will undoubtedly serve as additional motivation to build on their progress and pursue greater success.