CAF AWARDS: Fazila Ikwaput nominated for African Player of the Year

Kampala Queens Football Club forward Fazila Ikwaput has been nominated for the Women's African Player of the Year in the 2023 CAF Awards.

This is the second year in succession that the Crested Cranes attacker gets the recognition, having been nominated last year as well.

Ikwaput is the second Ugandan player to receive a nomination in this year's CAF Awards, after Fauzia Najjemba, who was nominated for the Young Player of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Ikwaput makes a list majorly dominated by South Africa (six), Nigeria (five) and Morocco, who have five nominees.

It will be a hard battle among the Nigerian duo of Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie as well as South Africa's Andile Dlamini, Zambia's Grace Chanda and Moroccan Ghizlane Chebbak.

Ikwaput, a proven goal-scorer, has enjoyed a brilliant year, where she also led the scoring charts at the CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA qualifiers with eight goals.

Kampala Queens eventually failed to make the continental showpiece at their first asking.

She also netted thrice in four 2024 Olympics qualification matches, as Uganda eventually lost to Cameroon by a 3-2 aggregate.

In the qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations, she netted once in two games as Uganda fell to Algeria, courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate.

Still, Ikwaput was on target this year as Uganda beat Tanzania 3-1 in an international friendly bout at the MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, in July.