Sports
FORMER Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Sen. Obinna Ogba, has urged football authorities to use Victor Osimhen’s continental feat to reverse the nation’s dwindling football fortunes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osimhen won the 2023 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Footballer of the Year Award in Marrakech, Morocco, on Dec. 11.
The Napoli FC of Italy talisman thus becomes the next Nigerian to win the title since the mecurial Kanu Nwankwo did so in 1999.
Ogba, while speaking with NAN on Tuesday in a telephone interview, said that Osimhen deserved to be crowned the king of African football.
“From a blistering, top notch display at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile 2015, Osimhem has risen steadliy with unbridled hardwork and commitment.
“His commitment to deliver the goods on the pitch is unrivaled and such has been catching the eyes of top European clubs and football fans across the globe,” he said.
The chairman of the Ebonyi Football Federation said that the feat, alongside those from the Super Falcons players, was an opportunity for relevant authorities to reverse the nation’s dwindling football fortunes.
“The fact that Nigeria won the men and women players of the year award shows we have talented players who are the envy of other countries in the world.
“Our problem, however, lies in the administrative and technical departments which should make those concerned to ensure that the slide is checked and reversed.”
He noted that the upcoming AFCON in January 2024 was a veritable opportunity to show that the lessons of the historic CAF award feats were imbibed.
In a related development, a female football scout in Ebonyi, Nneoma Oli, urged the NFF to ensure that the contract of former Super Falcons Technical Adviser, Randy Waldrum was immediately renewed.
Oli noted that Waldrum brought out the best from the falcons during the last FIFA women world cup that left tongues wagging in admiration across the world.
“The fact that Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie won the best women player and goalkeeper’s award respectively, shows that our female footballers are talented.
“Aside their splendid form for their respective European clubs, both players’ displays for the falcons were hugely due to Waldrum’s technical and organisational abilities,” she said. (NAN)
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-December 12, 2023 @ 13:59 GMT|
Tags: Asisat Oshoala Chiamaka Nnadozie Sen. Obinna Ogba Victor Osimhen
