International Football
27 YEARS OF CAF AWARDS: NIGERIA’S NWANKWO KANU: FIRST TO WIN IT TWICE
It is 20 years since a Nigerian last won the Africa Footballer of the Year. Nwankwo Kanu who won the honour was award on the field just before the kick off of the Nigeria –Tunisia Africa Cup of Nations’ opener on January 23, 2000 in Lagos.
He had earlier won the 1996 edition following the exploits at the Atlanta Olympic Games. By winning in 1999, he became the first player to win it twice since CAF took over the awards in 1992.
The feat was replicated by Ivorian icon Didier Drogba in 2006 and 2009.
This Tuesday,
the annual CAF Awards enters its 27th edition and the Awards Gala will take
place for the first time in Dakar, Senegal.
On Tuesday, the King of African football will be crowned at the Centre
International de conférences Abdou Diouf (CICAD) in Dakar, amongst the trio of
last year’s winner, Mohamed Salah of Egypt, 2015 winner Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang of Gabon and Senegalese Sadio Mane.
From 1992 to 2017, from Ghana’s Abedi Pele to Salah, 17 players have laid claim
to the most prestigious individual honour in African football.
Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o was the first to be crowned on four occasions – 2003,
2004, 2005 and 2010; a record since equalled by Ivorian Yaya Toure, who made it
four wins on the trot (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Former Senegal forward, El
Hadji Diouf also won the award twice in a row; 2001 and 2002.
Winners of the prestigious honour have come from either the midfield or attack;
and that tradition will be respected yet again this time, with the three
contenders being attackers.
In addition, the 17 players to have been decorated since 1992, have and continue
to remain amongst the foremost African ambassadors of the world’s most popular
sport.
There are also several others who were so near and yet so far, including
Ivorian goalkeeper Alain Gouamene in 1992; Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet
(sixth in 1993); Nigerian Daniel Amokachi, who regularly featured among the top
ten (10) durinmg his hey days, whilst Chadian Japhet N’Doram was virtually
handicapped by the non-presence of his national team at the final phase of a
major continental championship.
South African defender, Mark Fish also settled for sixth position in 1996.
Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour narrowly missed out on two occasions, 1999 and
2001.
Others are Michael
Essien of Ghana, who made the final three an unprecedented five times in a row
– 2005 (third), 2006 (third), 2007 (second), 2008 (third) and 2009 (third);
Asamoah Gyan, also from Ghana, 2010 (second); Andre Ayew (Ghana), 2011 (third)
& 2015 (third) and Malian Seydou Keita, 2011 (second). So are Nigerian duo,
John Obi Mikel and Vincent Enyeama, who finished second and third in 2013 and
2014 respectively.
When the roll call for the laureates is launched, there is one noticeable
observation. Cote d’Ivoire is the country which has the biggest number of
triumphs, six in total, Toure (four) and Drogba (two); followed by Nigeria on
five titles, two for Kanu, one each for Emmanuel Amunike, Rashidi Yekini and
Victor Ikpeba.
Patrick Mboma won it once coupled with Eto’o’s four also gives Cameroon five
titles. Diouf is responsible for the only two titles in the name of Senegal.
One-time winners include Ghana – Abedi Pele, Liberia – George Weah (the only
African player to have been crowned FIFA World Footballer of the Year), Morocco
– Mustapha Hadji, Mali – Frederic Kanoute and Togo – Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo),
Aubameyang (Gabon), Mahrez (Algeria) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt).
Another common feature is that all winners plied their trade in Europe at the
time of their coronation.
On the other hand, the Women’s Player of the Year has been dominated by Nigeria
since its inception in 2001. The Super Falcons have contributed four Queens of
African Football – Mercy Akide, Perpetua Nkwocha, Cynthia Uwak and Asisat
Oshoala.
Akide was the first to be crowned queen of the African game whilst Nkwocha was
decorated a record four times (2004, 2005, 2010, 2011), a record Oshoala is one
shy of after triumphs in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Uwak also won back-to-back titles
(2006, 2007).
Ghana has two titles – Alberta Sackey (2002) and Adjoa Bayor (2003); with South
Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon boasting of one crown each in Noko
Matlou (2008), Genoveva Anonma (2012) and Gaelle Enganamouit (2015) respectively.
This year, Oshoala will be hoping to equal the four titles record of her
compatriot Nkwocha. However, she faces stiff challenges from compatriot
Francisa Ordega and South African Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana.
For the second time in a row, energy giants, Aiteo, are the headline sponsors.
AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Year
1992 Abedi AYEW PELE (Ghana)
1993 Rashidi YEKINI (Nigeria)
1994 Emmanuel AMUNEKE (Nigeria)
1995 George WEAH (Liberia)
1996 Nwankwo KANU (Nigeria)
1997 Victor IKPEBA (Nigeria)
1998 Mustapha HADJI (Morocco)
1999 Nwankwo KANU (Nigeria)
2000 Patrick MBOMA (Cameroon)
2001 El-Hadji DIOUF (Senegal)
2002 El Hadji DIOUF (Senegal)
2003 Samuel ETO’O (Cameroon)
2004 Samuel ETO’O (Cameroon)
2005 Samuel ETO’O (Cameroon)
2006 Didier DROGBA (Côte d’Ivoire)
2007 Frederic KANOUTE (Mali)
2008 Emmanuel ADEBAYOR (Togo)
2009 Didier DROGBA (Côte d’Ivoire)
2010 Samuel ETO’O (Cameroon)
2011 Yaya TOURE (Côte d’Ivoire)
2012 Yaya TOURE (Côte d’Ivoire)
2013 Yaya TOURE (Côte d’Ivoire)
2014 Yaya TOURE (Côte d’Ivoire)
2015 Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon)
2016 Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria)
2017 Mohamed SALAH (Egypt)
2018 ??
Women’s Player of the Year
2001 Mercy AKIDE (Nigeria)
2002 Alberta SACKEY (Ghana)
2003 Adjoa BAYOR (Ghana)
2004 Perpetua NKWOCHA (Nigeria)
2005 Perpetua NKWOCHA (Nigeria)
2006 Cynthia UWAK (Nigeria)
2007 Cynthia UWAK (Nigeria)
2008 Noko MATLOU (South Africa)
2009 Not awarded
2010 Perpetua NKWOCHA (Nigeria)
2011 Perpetua NKWOCHA (Nigeria)
2012 Genoveva ANONMAM (Equatorial Guinea)
2013 Not awarded
2014 Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria)
2015 Gaëlle ENGANAMOUIT (Cameroon)
2016 Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria)
2017 Asisat OSHOALA (Nigeria)
2018 ??
Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by FIFA World Cup-bound Jordan in an eventful international friendly in Antalya on Tuesday night, with the contest overshadowed by a late red card to Alex Iwobi.
Iwobi, making his 98th appearance for the national team, was sent off in the closing stages, capping a dramatic encounter in which Nigeria surrendered a first-half lead and finished the game with ten men.
The match, played at the Mardan Sports Complex, brought Nigeria’s March international window to a close, but it proved anything but routine as both sides delivered a fiercely contested and entertaining clash.
Jordan, ranked 64th in the world and enjoying strong recent form, struck first in the 17th minute through Mousa Tamari. A well-worked free-kick routine caught the Nigerian defence napping, allowing the forward to fire home the opener.
Nigeria responded quickly and thought they had equalised six minutes later when Raphael Onyedika finished from a Moses Simon cut-back, but the goal was controversially ruled out.
The Super Eagles eventually drew level in the 30th minute. Stand-in captain Moses Simon, earning his 97th cap, reacted fastest after Ademola Lookman’s effort was blocked, slotting home with a composed left-footed finish for his second goal in as many matches.
Nigeria went ahead four minutes before halftime when Bright Osayi-Samuel’s pinpoint cross found debutant Emmanuel Fernandez, who showed great composure to control and finish, giving the three-time African champions a 2-1 lead at the interval.
The second half took on a more physical tone, with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho forced off in the 57th minute after sustaining an injury while clearing the ball. Adebayo Adeleye replaced him between the posts.
Head coach Eric Chelle introduced Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi to shore up the midfield, but Jordan continued to press and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 77th minute.
Nigeria pushed for a winner late on, handing a senior debut to Philip Otele, while Samuel Chukwueze came on for Moses Simon. However, the closing moments were marred by Iwobi’s dismissal, leaving the Super Eagles to see out the match with ten men.
Despite the draw, the encounter offered valuable insights for the coaching crew as Nigeria continues preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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By Kunle Solaja
Match Context
- Fixture: Jordan vs Nigeria
- Venue: Antalya, Turkey
- Occasion: Four-Nation Invitational Tournament
- Kick-off: Tuesday (evening)
They would have loved facing Jamaica in Mexico today for a place at the World Cup, but fate has other plans, and Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be taking on World Cup debutants Jordan in a friendly match instead in Turkey.
The encounter promises to be a revealing contest for both sides as preparations intensify for future global assignments.
The encounter, staged as part of a four-nation tournament in Turkey, will be the third meeting between the two countries, with the head-to-head record finely poised.
History Beckons in Third Meeting
Nigeria claimed a 2-0 victory in their first clash at the National Stadium, Lagos, on 28 April 2004 during the LG Cup.
However, the tables turned in 2013 when a largely experimental Nigerian side under the late Stephen Keshi suffered a 1-0 defeat in Amman, courtesy of a Hatem Aqel penalty.
This latest meeting now serves as the decider in what has quietly become a balanced rivalry.
Jordan arrive in buoyant mood, riding on the crest of a historic achievement, which is their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup (2026).
Jordan’s Al-Nashama
Their recent form underlines a team growing in confidence and tactical discipline. In the past months, Al-Nashama have:
- Held Russia (0-0)
- Defeated Dominican Republic (3-0)
- Drawn with Mali (0-0)
- Narrowly lost to Bolivia (1-0) and Albania (4-2)
- Pushed Tunisia (3-2 loss) in a competitive encounter
They also opened this invitational tournament with a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica, further evidence of their resilience.
The team’s preparations have been boosted by a morale-lifting visit from Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, President of the Jordan Football Association, during their Antalya training camp.
Coach Jamal Al-Salami has deliberately scheduled matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica, citing their stylistic similarity to World Cup opponents such as Argentina, Austria, and Algeria.
Despite missing several key players, including star forward Mousa Ta’mari, Jordan have continued to show depth, blending senior players with youth prospects as part of a broader developmental strategy.
Nigeria head into the clash with renewed confidence after a 2-1 victory over Iran in their opening game of the tournament, with goals from Moses Simon and Akor Adams.
Unlike previous meetings, the Super Eagles are expected to field a full-strength squad, packed with Europe-based stars, something Jordanian observers have already described as a “heavyweight challenge.”
The squad boasts a blend of experience and attacking flair.
The presence of multiple attacking options gives Nigeria a clear edge going forward, while their physicality and pace could pose serious problems for the Jordanians.
Jordan are expected to adopt a compact, disciplined shape, relying on quick transitions and defensive organisation, qualities that earned them results against stronger opposition in recent friendlies.
Nigeria, by contrast, will likely dominate possession, using width and individual brilliance to break down Jordan’s defensive lines.
The key battle may lie in midfield, where Jordan’s structure will be tested against Nigeria’s blend of strength, technique, and tempo.
For Jordan, this is another step in fine-tuning a squad preparing for its historic World Cup debut—a chance to measure themselves against elite opposition.
For Nigeria, it is an opportunity to assert authority, build cohesion among its star-studded squad, and maintain momentum ahead of more competitive fixtures.
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A clash of kit colours caused confusion for players and made it difficult for fans watching on TV to tell the teams apart as World Cup co-hosts, the U.S., were accused of being responsible for a mix-up in a 5-2 friendly defeat by Belgium on Saturday.
Both teams used the match to launch the new kit they will wear at the June 11 to July 19 World Cup, which is also being held in Canada and Mexico.
The U.S. sported a design that pulls directly from the red and white stripes in the American flag, while Belgium wore their away kit, which was light blue with pink accents.
“Sometimes you had to look twice, especially if you wanted to play quickly,” Belgian winger Jeremy Doku told his national television afterwards. “I would have preferred clearer colours.”
American captain Christian Pulisic said it was difficult to deal with.
“A lot of times you get the ball, and you look up, you can’t really lock in on something. You can only base it on the colour of the shirt. That’s how it works,” he told reporters. “And when it’s very similar, it’s difficult.”
Belgian television apologised to viewers after the match, with analyst and former Belgian international Marc Degryse criticising organisers.
“Football is a product that needs to be sold. Everything always has to be better and better, yet they still managed to make the match annoying with the jerseys,” he said.
“This goes completely against the whole commercial aspect. This is really unacceptable.”
US Soccer said pictures of both jerseys were sent to match referees before the match, and at no time did they indicate they felt there was a conflict.
Belgian media said on Sunday the fault lay with the hosts, who insisted on playing in their new red and white jerseys, which clashed with both Belgium’s first-choice red strip and also the lighter away kit.
Both countries wanted to unveil their new jerseys for the first time, but after becoming aware of the situation, Belgium proposed to play in their traditional red, the reports said.
However, that was not an option because the U.S. shirt also contains a lot of red. One solution could have been for the U.S. to play in their dark blue kit, but that did not fit into their commercial plan, the reports added.
-Reuters
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