…Wins fourth title
Nigeria’s female utility player and captain of the Super Falcons, Asisat Lamina Oshoala of Barcelona FC was Tuesday crowned the African female footballer of year 2019 for the fourth time equaling the records of her Nigerian compatriot, Perpetual Nkwocha who kept the title in 2004; 2005; 2010 and 2011 as against Oshoala who won it in 2014; 2016 and 2017.
Highly decorated Oshoala born 9th October 1994 at Ikorodu in Lagos State, Member of the Order of the Niger (MOM) had won the FIFA U20 Golden Boot in 2014; and bagged the same trophy in Africa Women Championships of 2014 and 2016 beat last year winner, Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa and Beijing Phoenix FC and Ajara Nchout of Cameroun and Valerenga FC to second and third positions respectively.
The Albatros Citadel Sehl Hasheesh, Hurghada in Egypt was full of football greats including former Arsenal FC Manager, Arsen Wenger and veteran referee Pierlugi Collina of Italy who heads FIFA Referees Committee.
Senegal’s Captain and Liverpool star, Sadio Mane born on 10th April 1992 won the Men’s category for the first time after placing 3rd in 2016, 2nd in 2017 and 2nd in 2018. He played 69 matches for Senegal and scored 19 goals.
Mane had dashed the hopes of his club mate. Mohammed Salah who was hoping to equal Liberian President, George Weah’s three times record. Samuel Eto of Cameroun and Yaya Toure are the highest Men’s winner of four times each. Salah won in twice. Manchester United and Algeria Riyad Mahrez placed third,
The stunning bullet free kick of Mahrez against Daniel Akpeyi in goal for Nigeria at the 2019 African Cup of Nations Semifinal won the African best goal of 2019.
Former world U17 Golden Boot winner, Victor Osimhen of Lille and his brother Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal lost the African Youth Player trophy to dashing Moroccan and Borrusia Dortmund FC player, Achraf Hakimi who was runners-up last year.
Two awards surprised Football pundits as Youcef Belaili of Esperance and Algeria who was suspended by CAF for about eight months won the African Interclub title ahead of Anice Badri also of Esperance and Tunisia as well as Tarek Hamed of Zamalek and Egypt. Egypt that had all her Football Association members step down at the last African tournament won the Best Association of 2019.
Desiree Ellis of South Africa beat Thomas Dennerby of Nigeria to win Best Women’s Team Manager while Algeria’s Djamel Belmadi beat Aliou Cisse of Senegal for the Men’s Manager Award.
African Champions, Desert Warriors of Algeria won the Best Men’s Team Award while Cameroun won the female trophy.
No Nigerian player was in the African X1 team. Aboumeyan of Arsenal and Gabon who did not wear his country’s jersey throughout 2019 made the team ahead of Odion Ighalo who was highest goal scorer at the last games in Egypt. Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester and Nigeria picked by the English Professional league was not included in the best X1 team too.
– ENIOLA OLATUNJI.
