The Indomitable Lionesses are the best women’s national team of the year 2019. The Lionesses were crowned last Tuesday, in the Egyptian town of Hurghada, at the 2019 CAF Awards event.
The star-studded ceremony brought together the cream of African footballers both retired and still active. This was the third time the Indomitable Lionesses were winning the trophy after 2011 and 2015. The trophy was handed to the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) Seidou Mbombo Njoya by FIFA’s Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
The Lionesses reward comes as a result of an above average 2019 football year. The girls of Coach Alain Djeumfa, qualified for the 1/8 finals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France thanks to a breath-taking victory against New Zealand in the group stages. This was a back-to-back qualification after 2015 in Canada.
The Indomitable Lionesses are still in the race for an Olympic Games qualification ticket. Aboudi Onguene and her peers will play Zambia in the last round qualifiers in March.
One of Cameroon’s biggest hopes in the 2019 CAF Awards, was Nchout Ajara. The forward was nominated for the best women’s player of the year. However, luck did not smile at her. Nigerian Asistat Oshoala narrowly beat her.
Indomitable Lionesses coach Alain Djeumfa was equally unfortunate. Djeumfa, nominated for the Women’s coach of the Year, lost the trophy to South African Desiree Ellis.
Jonathan MBIAOH
CAF Awards 2019 winners
African Interclubs Player of the Year: Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)
African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon
African Men’s National Team of the Year: Algeria
Best African Goal of the Year: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
FIFPro Africa’s Best 11: Andre Onana; Serge Aurier, Joel Matip, Kalidou Koulibaly, Achraf Hakimi; Idrissa Gana Gueye, Riyad Mahrez, Hakim Ziyech; Mohamed Salah, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane
African Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
African Men’s Coach of the Year: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)
Club President of the Year: Moise Katumbi (TP Mazembe)
African Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona)
