By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
Former Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Senator Obinna Ogba has urged relevant football authorities to use Victor Osimhen’s continental feat to reverse the nation’s dwindling football fortunes.
Osimhen won the 2023 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Footballer of the Year award in the event held in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday.
The Napoli Football Club of Italy talisman thus becomes the next Nigerian to win the title since the mercurial Kanu Nwankwo did so in 1999.
Ogba said on Tuesday that Osimhen deserves to be crowned the king of African football.
“From top notch display at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile 2015, Osimhem has risen steadily with unbridled hard work 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”.
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,”
Ogba noted that the upcoming AFCON in January 2024 is 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 is 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 super falcons were hugely due to Waldrum’s technical and organisational abilities”.
