Nigerian footballers and CAF award

Former African Footballer of the Year and ex-Super Eagles striker, Victor Ikpeba, expressed hope that Nigerian players would return to the acme of African football this year, when asked to make his new year prediction. It is indeed embarrassing that since the eras of Rashidi Yekini, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke and Kanu Nwankwo in the 1990s and early 2000s, Nigerian players have failed to rule Africa. This is because Nigerian players have failed to shine in the elite teams of Europe.

Even though players such as Vincent Enyeama and Mikel Obi came close to winning the award, they lost out to better players, although in the case of Enyeama, the fact that he was a goalkeeper may have counted against him. It is up to the administrators of football in Nigeria to put their house in order and play leading roles in CAF and FIFA, because politics also plays big roles in this award. However, Nigerian players must rise to the occasion and prove that they can bring back the good old days when Nigerian footballers shone like a million stars. Nigeria is too big and too talented to be lagging behind in CAF awards. We have won the Under-17 World Cup a record five times, and our players ought to mature and shine. Young players like Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Ogenekaro Etebo should put in more efforts and ensure that Nigeria rules Africa once again, and very soon.

Hamed Ibrahim

Ikorodu, Lagos