The Nigeria Super Falcons and Falconets Forward Janet Akekoromowei Seimeyeha has been nominated for the 2026 CAF Young Player of the Year award alongside Flamingos and Edo Queens forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi.
The Striker, who currently features for Portuguese side S.L. Benfica in the Campeonato Nacional Feminino, has continued to establish herself as one of Nigeria’s emerging attacking talents following impressive performances at club and international levels.
Akekoromowei gained significant recognition through her performances in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) and her contributions to Nigeria’s youth national teams, particularly the Falconets, during the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
During the 2024/25 NWFL season with Nasarawa Amazons, the forward enjoyed an outstanding campaign, scoring 13 goals in 19 appearances to finish as the league’s second-highest goalscorer while also claiming the Most Valuable Player award.
Following her move to Bayelsa Queens in 2025, Akekoromowei continued her impressive form, securing consecutive Player of the Match awards during the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers against Sam-Nelly FC and USFA.
At the international level, she represented Nigeria at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia and played a significant role in the Falconets’ campaign during the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei scored 2 goals in 4 appearances for Nigeria at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. The Benfica forward scored a goal in the 10-1 win over New Caledonia and doubled the lead in the 3-0 Round of 16 victory over England.
One of her standout performances came in September 2026, when she scored a spectacular goal and delivered an impressive display in Nigeria’s 3-0 victory over England in the Round of 16, earning the official Visa Player of the Match award.
Her performances also earned her an opportunity with the senior national team, making her Super Falcons debut in a friendly against Algeria before featuring in Nigeria’s Olympic qualifying victory over Comoros.
The CAF Young Player of the Year nomination further recognises Akekoromowei’s impressive development and growing influence in Nigerian women’s football, as she joins Adegbuyi among the country’s nominees for the prestigious continental award.
