Amuneke, Osimhen, Eaglets For CAF Awards

U-17 World Cup hotshot, Golden Eaglet, Victor Osimhen out wit his marker during the finals of the U-17 World Cup in Chile, recently

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has recognised the heart-warming exploits of Nigeria at the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile by nominating coach Emmanuel Amuneke, hotshot Victor Osimhen and the Golden Eaglets for various awards next month.
Amuneke, who led Nigeria to win a fifth U-17 World Cup in Chile, has been nominated for the CAF Coach of the Year, but he faces a stiff challenge from Herve Renard, who led Cote d’Ivoire to win a second AFCON earlier this year in Equatorial Guinea.
Other nominees for the Coach of the Year are Patrice Carteron (TP Mazembe), Fawzi Benzarti (Etoile du Sahel) and Baye Ba (Mali U-17).
Osimhen, who set a new goals record of 10 goals at the U17 World Cup and went on to clinch a winners’ medal at the U-23 AFCON, leads the nominees for the Youth Player of the Year.
His rivals for this award are compatriot Kelechi Nwakali, who was named MVP of the U-17 World Cup, Samuel Diarra (Mali U-17), Adama Traore (Mali U-20) and Yaw Yeboah (Ghana U-20).
Nigeria U23 skipper Azubuike Okechukwu, who was named MVP of the U-23 AFCON, and his teammate Oghenekaro Etebo have been shortlisted for the Most Promising Talent alongside Zinedine Ferhat (Algeria U-23), Djigui Diarra (Mali U23) and Mahmoud Abdelmonem ‘Kahraba’ (Egypt U-23).
Nigeria U-17 and U-23 teams are in the running for National Team of the Year along with African champions Cote d’Ivoire and Mali U-17, who reached the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Super Falcons midfielder Ngozi Ebere, who recently transferred to Paris Saint-Germain women’s team, has been nominated for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year.