Black Queens Shine at 2025 CAF Awards After Inspiring WAFCON Bronze Finish

Ghana’s Black Queens are once again back in the continental spotlight as several of their standout players earn nominations for the 2025 CAF Awards. The team’s remarkable bronze-medal finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has not only rekindled national pride but also placed Ghanaian women’s football firmly among the continent’s elite.

The 2025 CAF Awards shortlist, released earlier this week, featured a strong Ghanaian presence that reflects the team’s resurgence. Captain Portia Boakye, goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan Fiindib, and teenage sensation Stella Nyamekye were all nominated in their respective categories. The Black Queens themselves are also in contention for the Women’s National Team of the Year award, highlighting their renewed dominance and resilience on the African stage.

Portia Boakye’s nomination for African Women’s Player of the Year feels like a poetic acknowledgment of a career defined by dedication, leadership, and quiet influence. The veteran forward has been the heart of the Black Queens, guiding a relatively young team through moments of uncertainty and pressure with remarkable composure. Her performances during WAFCON were a masterclass in leadership, blending tactical intelligence with the calm authority that kept Ghana focused even in the toughest matches.

Cynthia Konlan Fiindib, Ghana’s shot-stopper, was also a revelation throughout the tournament. Her agility, command of the box, and uncanny ability to read penalties made her one of the standout goalkeepers in the competition. Her nomination for Goalkeeper of the Year comes as no surprise to fans who watched her heroics in Ghana’s hard-fought victories against Morocco and Cameroon. Fiindib’s saves were not just reflexes but statements of intent — moments that inspired belief and kept the Queens alive in games that could have easily slipped away.

Then there’s Stella Nyamekye, the teenage midfielder whose confidence and creativity added spark to Ghana’s midfield. Her nomination for the Young Player of the Year award marks a new chapter for Ghanaian women’s football. At just 18, Nyamekye showed maturity beyond her years, dictating tempo, threading passes with precision, and even scoring a crucial goal in the third-place playoff that secured Ghana’s bronze medal. For many, she represents the future of the Black Queens — a blend of raw talent, intelligence, and courage that suggests Ghana’s next generation is already taking shape.

The team’s journey at the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco was nothing short of a renaissance story. After years of near-misses and inconsistency, the Queens arrived with quiet determination and a collective hunger to restore their reputation. They started the group stage with a tense draw but quickly found their rhythm, defeating Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a thrilling encounter that remains one of the highlights of the tournament. Though their dream of reaching the final was cut short after a narrow semi-final defeat to South Africa, their response in the bronze medal match spoke volumes. They fought with grit and character, edging Cameroon in a nerve-wracking game that sealed their place on the podium.

That bronze medal did not just add to Ghana’s trophy cabinet — it redefined the narrative around women’s football in the country. For years, the Black Queens had been overshadowed by the men’s national team, the Black Stars. But 2025 feels different. The Queens’ achievements, coupled with their CAF Awards recognition, signal a shift in how Ghanaians view women’s football. They have become symbols of perseverance, proof that with the right investment and support, Ghanaian women can compete at the highest level.

The CAF nominations are also a reflection of progress behind the scenes. The Ghana Football Association’s renewed focus on the women’s game, from grassroots development to better training facilities, is beginning to bear fruit. The appointment of coach Nora Häuptle, whose tactical discipline and motivational style have transformed the squad, is perhaps one of the best decisions the GFA has made in recent years. Häuptle’s approach has balanced structure with freedom, giving players the confidence to express themselves while maintaining tactical discipline.

Fans across Ghana have celebrated the CAF Awards announcement with pride. Social media has been flooded with congratulatory messages and nostalgic reflections on the Queens’ long journey from continental powerhouses in the 1990s to a team rebuilding its legacy in modern African football. Portia Boakye, in particular, has become a rallying figure for young girls across Ghana who now see a clearer pathway to professional football.

The CAF Awards ceremony, slated for December in Marrakech, will be more than just an awards night. For Ghana, it will serve as a symbolic recognition of how far the Black Queens have come. Even if they don’t sweep all the categories, their strong representation is already a victory. It tells the story of a team that refused to fade, that endured setbacks, financial struggles, and limited recognition, yet fought back with heart and unity.

For Ghanaian football fans, the resurgence of the Black Queens comes as a refreshing counterpoint to the frustrations that have surrounded the men’s team in recent years. While the Black Stars continue to rebuild after a disappointing World Cup campaign, the women have quietly taken center stage, playing with passion, discipline, and a renewed sense of purpose.

The nominations also carry a deeper message about gender equity in sports. Recognition at the CAF Awards underscores the growing respect for women’s football across Africa. Ghana’s inclusion among the top nominees validates years of advocacy by female athletes, coaches, and journalists who have fought for visibility and fairness. It reminds policymakers that investment in women’s football is not charity but a strategic step toward national sporting excellence.

As the countdown to the awards continues, hopes are high in Ghana that the Queens will bring home some of the honors. Whether or not they do, their presence at the top table of African football is already proof that the future of women’s football in Ghana is bright. The 2025 CAF Awards will not just celebrate individual brilliance but also the resilience of a team that has reignited belief in the power of the Ghanaian spirit, one game, one save, one goal at a time.

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