President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has declared African Men’s Player of the Year, Sadio Mane of Senegal and Women’s Player of the Year, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala as fully deserving of their honours at the 2019 CAF Football Awards ceremony in Hurghada, Egypt on Tuesday night.
The NFF supremo, who is a Member of the CAF Executive Committee and Member of the influential Organizing Committee for FIFA Competitions, praised both football stars for their integrity, high-level commitment to club and country, discipline, dedication and good heart, and their love of the game and the different societies they hail from.
“There is no doubt that both players deserve their awards. Mane has been very consistent for a number of years and has worked hard to improve himself in all areas of his game, and I must say the same goes for Asisat Oshoala, who has also been an impact player for FC Barcelona Ladies within the short time that she arrived at the club.
“Mane and Oshoala have also been role models in their native communities with their commitment and investment in charity causes. I congratulate both players and urge them to continue to improve as they strive for excellence in all areas.”
While Mane’s honour was his first, Oshoala picked up her fourth African Women’s Player of the Year title, adding to wins in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and equalling compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha at the top of the all-time list.
Senegalese Sadio Mane and the Nigerian Oshoala were the big winners on a colourful night at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, with Moroccan Achraf Hakimi picking up the gong for Youth Player of the Year and South African Desire Ellis emerging the Women’s Coach of the Year. Djamel Belmadi, who in the summer of last year led Algeria to only her second AFCON title, was named Men’s Coach of the Year. Algeria duly won the Men’s Team of the Year and Cameroon the Women’s Team of the Year, among others.
