At just 16 years old, Nigerian forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi is rapidly establishing herself as one of the most exciting young prospects in African women’s football, earning a nomination for the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
The Flamingos and FC Robo Queens attacker has enjoyed an outstanding year, delivering impressive performances at club, regional and international levels and attracting attention as one of Nigeria’s emerging football talents.
Adegbuyi’s rise has been built on more than potential. During the 2025/2026 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership season, she scored 11 goals and earned the league’s Player of the Season recognition, underlining her growing influence in domestic football.
She further strengthened her reputation during the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament, where she represented Edo Queens and was named Player of the Tournament after helping the Nigerian side secure the regional title and qualification for the 2026/2027 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Her outstanding form continued with Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Flamingos. At the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire, Adegbuyi scored four goals and contributed several assists as Nigeria won all five of its matches to claim the title. She was subsequently named Player of the Tournament.
On the global stage, the teenager also made her presence felt at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, scoring against Puerto Rico and North Korea as the Flamingos progressed to the semi-finals.
Her performance against Puerto Rico was particularly memorable, as she scored Nigeria’s opening goal and was named Player of the Match in the victory.
These achievements have now earned Adegbuyi a place among the nominees for the 2026 CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award. She is joined on the shortlist by fellow Nigerian forward Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei, giving Nigeria two representatives in the category.
The recognition places Adegbuyi among some of the continent’s most promising young footballers and reflects the progress she has made within a remarkably short period.
For Nigerian women’s football, her emergence is another encouraging sign of the talent coming through the country’s domestic league and youth national teams.
At 16, Adegbuyi still has considerable room to develop. Consistency, discipline, quality coaching and the right opportunities will be crucial as she continues her journey towards becoming an established star at senior international level.
Nigeria has a promising talent on its hands, and her CAF nomination is a significant milestone. The challenge now is to turn this remarkable beginning into a lasting career at the highest level of the game.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled for December 7 in Lagos, where the continent’s outstanding footballers and teams will be honoured.
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