FIFA THE BEST
Mikel Obi, Mercy Akide on panel of soccer experts for FIFA The Best
Nigeria football legends, John Mikel Obi and Mercy Akide are on the FIFA’s panels of experts for the FIFA The Best Award.
Both are among the 30-man panel that shortlisted the various candidates for The Best Awards.
Akide, a retired Super Falcons forward has her name atop of the list 11 members for the women’s category while Mikel is among the 11 that shortlisted the nominees for the men.
In the panel is also Didier Drogba of Cote d’Ivoire. His compatriot, Clémentine Touré is on the Women’s Panel.
Panel of Experts
| Women’s Panel | Men’s Panel | Fan Award |
| Mercy Akide (Nigeria) | Petr Cech (Czechia) | DaMarcus Beasley (USA) |
| Shirley Cruz (Costa Rica) | Didier Drogba (Cõte d’Ivoire) | Heather Garriock (Australia) |
| Amy Duggan (Australia) | Brett Emerton (Australia) | Maia Jackman (New Zealand) |
| Isabella Echeverri (Colombia) | Rio Ferdinand (England) | Carmelina Moscato (Canada) |
| Mia Hamm (USA) | Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) | Roque Junior (Brazil) |
| Jessica Houara (France) | Kaká (Brazil) | Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay) |
| Mana Iwabuchi (Japan) | Mario Kempes (Argentina) | Jean Sseninde (Uganda) |
| Manon Melis (Netherlands) | Alexi Lalas (USA) | Ian Wright (England) |
| Patrizia Panico (Italy) | Jon Obi Mikel (Nigeria) | |
| Clémentine Touré (Ivory Coast) | Park Ji-Sung (Korea Republic) | |
| Kirsty Yallop (New Zealand) | Ivan Vicelich (New Zealand) |
Nigerian journalist, Oluwashina Okeleji who voted under the Nigerian banner as a media practitioner in the FIFA The Best election is one of the few who got a perfect voting pattern.
His deep knowledge of the game is reflected in his vote which came as a perfect mark.
He voted this way:
- 1.Vinicious Jr., 2. Rodri, 3. Jude Bellingham
Okeleji has since 2004 been reporting for the BBC World Service Radio and Television (Focus on Africa Sport) and writes regularly for the BBC African Football website.
He also contributes to World Soccer magazine and Al Jazeera English (Sport). He is a multiple-ward winner.
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Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has been named FIFA Men’s Player after voting was conducted with fans, national coaches, and captains forming the electoral college.
Nigerians may wish to know how their coaches and captain voted. Coach Augustine Owen Eguavoen voted as follows:
- Lionel Messi, 2. Vinícius Jr, 3. Rodri.
Messi, Eguavoen’s first choice did not make the top three. He placed sixth overall.
The Super Eagles captain, William Troost Ekong’s voting sheet reveals he voted this way:
1. Jude Bellingham, 2. Vinícius Jr, 3. Rodri
He nearly had a perfect scoring as the trio made the top three, but Bellingham finished third.
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After controversially missing being named this year’s Ballon d’Or winner,Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was named FIFA Men’s player of the Year in Doha on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions to help Real Madrid clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double. He also scored in the final win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Brazilian won the award ahead of Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his teammate at Real, England’s Jude Bellingham.
The 24-year-old, who narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Rodri in October, was in Doha to collect the award, with Real in Qatar for Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca.
“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo and now I’m here,” Vinicius said.
Bonmati retained the FIFA women’s Player of the Year award ahead of Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, having also won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year in October.
The 26-year-old helped her club to a domestic treble last season in a campaign in which Barca also retained the Champions League, and Bonmati scored in the semi-final and final when Spain won the Nations League in February.
“I’m very grateful for this award, but I always say that this is a team effort, with a Barca that won everything and the national team,” Bonmati said.
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the best men’s coach award after the Italian led his club to the league and Champions League double last season.
“I want to share this with the club, with my president and with my players, those of the best club in the world,” Ancelotti said.
-Reuters
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