NIGERIA U-23, U-17, AMUNEKE, OSIMHEN IN LINE FOR GLO-CAF AWARDS

The annual showpiece, which rewards African football players from across the world who had excelled in the preceding year, will take place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja from 7pm on Thursday.

Nigeria’s U-23 team, which won the 2nd Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal last month, in the process qualifying for this year’s Olympics football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, is nominated in the category of ‘National Team of the Year,’ alongside Nigeria’s U-17 squad which successfully retained the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in November.

Azubuike Okechukwu, who captained the Nigeria U-23 to glory in Senegal and was selected the Most Valuable Player, is nominated for ‘Most Promising Talent’ alongside team-mate Etebo Oghenekaro, who finished the tournament as top scorer.

Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, is listed for ‘Coach of the Year,’ while his players, Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen are in consideration for ‘Youth Player of the Year.’

Eaglets’ captain Nwakali was named the Most Valuable Player of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with Osimhen the top scorer of all time with 10 goals. Super Falcons’ defender Ngozi Ebere is nominated for ‘Women Player of the Year.’