AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Dada, Aiida to Host CAF Awards 2023
Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco
Moroccan media stalwart Ouadih Dada and international host Sophy Aiida from Cameroon will host the CAF Awards 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday, December 11.
The duo will be on stage for the prestigious annual event that will honour Africa’s finest talent for the period December 2022 to November 2023 in the women’s category and November 2022 to September 2023 in the men’s classification.
“I am very excited about hosting the CAF Awards in my country – Morocco. Marrakech has gone through a lot since the earthquake in September this year, and to be here to welcome and celebrate Africa means so much to us as a people,” Dada explained to CAFOnline.com on Sunday.
Dada, who is the Chief Editor at 2M – the main television channel in Morocco and author of Dans l’oeil du lion (In the eyes of the lion), will bring a touch of Morocco to the event as the continent’s finest come together.
With his family origin from the small town of Bhalil in the center of Morocco – 20km from the spiritual city and former capital Fès, Dada is a household name in the Moroccan media space excited to co-host the CAF Awards 2023.
He said, “We have enjoyed a burst of success in recent years, especially reaching the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup last year in Qatar. This was history for our country – a memorable occasion that we shall remember for a very long time. So to be here a year later with the opportunity to celebrate this achievement at the CAF Awards is a historic moment for me and our country.”
This is the second year in a row that Morocco is the host of the prestigious CAF Awards with last year’s event happening in the administrative capital – Rabat.
Aiida, whose on-stage brilliance brings her back to the continental stage a year later, is thrilled to be specifically in Marrakech.
“Every time I come to Marrakech, I feel at home because of the red clay on all the buildings in the city. It reminds me of my villages back home in Cameroon as the Bamileke Tribe in both Bamendjou and Bangou, we also have red clay on our houses. There is a strong connection between the two towns.
“Not long ago in September, there was an earthquake here. I have family that live here in Marrakech, and I remember them telling us about the ground opening in front of them and having to sleep in the compound because they were afraid of sleeping in the house in case the earthquake happened while they were sleeping.
“To see Marrakech back on her feet is a story of resilience and we express solidarity with the people of Morocco through all this. We feel their pain and hurt and we are together in this. To see and experience how warm the people of Marrakech are, is heartwarming. Life is back. We are Africans and are stronger than anything. We keep going strong.
“This is a celebration of African excellence. The best of the best are here for the CAF Awards. We are one Africa. It is about time the world sees the excellence that we have. Our time is now,” Aiida said with gratitude on her face.
Aiida and Dada are set to light up the CAF Awards 2023 that will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco at 1800hrs GMT.
-Cafonline
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-Reuters
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Three Super Eagles players have made the shortlist for this year’s AF Awards holding in Marrakesh, Morocco in December.
Expectedly, Ademola Lookman is listed among those for the elite award, the African Footballer of the Year. He is joined by Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong. The revelation came from CAF through their X handle.
There are 10 players on the shortlist and in the next few days, that will be cut by half before the final three.
Listed in the elite category are Amine Gouiri of Algeria, Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire), Chancel Mbemba (Congo), Serhou Guiracy (Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco) and Rowen Williams (South Africa).
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award. He will contest the award with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou (now in Saudi Arabia), Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, and Senegal’s Djigui Diarra and Cameroon’s Andre Onana.
AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Nigerian Breweries raise a toast to Osimhen, Oshoala, and Nnadozie on CAF Awards victories
Nigerian Breweries Plc, a long-standing pillar of support for Nigerian football, has expressed immense pride and joy in the nation’s historic achievements at the 2023 CAF Awards.
The victories of Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, and Super Falcons’ duo of Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, were celebrated by the Head of Marketing Communications at Nigerian Breweries, Sandra Amachree who stated, “It is incredibly pleasing to see Nigerian football being celebrated in such a positive light.
This feat serves as a powerful inspiration and bodes well for the upcoming 2024 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for both men and women in Cote D’Ivoire and Morocco, respectively.”
Sandra Amachree further highlighted the significance of these awards, emphasizing their potential to inspire further investment in Nigerian football by Nigerian Breweries.
“This success is a testament to the dedication and talent of our players, and it encourages us to continue investing in initiatives that raise the bar for football in Nigeria,” she added.
Osimhen ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait; winning the coveted ‘African Footballer of the Year’ award.
The Napoli striker follows in the footsteps of Nigerian legends like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, and Victor Ikpeba
For Oshoala, she continued her reign as the queen of African football by securing a record-extending sixth CAF Player of the Year (Women) award.
While Nnadozie’s impressive performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was duly acknowledged as she was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) title.
The Super Falcons, consistently supported by Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, received their due recognition as they were crowned the Women’s National Team of the Year.
Nigerian Breweries, through some of its brands like 33 Export Lager, Star Lager, Life Continental Beer, Amstel Malta Ultra, and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for Nigerian football since February 2018.
This commitment extends to both the men’s and women’s teams, as showcased by their continued backing of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons respectively.
Osimhen, a past recipient of the 33” Export Lager Man-of-the-Match Award, represents the ongoing commitment of 33 Export Lager and Life Continental Beer to the Super Eagles.
Similarly, the Super Falcons have enjoyed unparalleled support from Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, fostering a strong partnership between the brands and the women’s national team.
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