Despite Super Eagles and Chelsea midfield maestro, John Mikel Obi not being named the African Footballer of the Year at Thursday’s awards ceremony in Lagos, it was plaudits galore for the NFF President, Aminu Maiagari, his executive committee and all Nigerians over the near clean sweep of awards at the Eagles camp in Cape Town on Thursday night.
From Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the bull’ Amokachi, Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor to other officials and indeed the players it was clapping and praises galore as award after award was named after Nigeria. Even the Protocol Official attached to the team, Lawrence Kentu and other security personnel in the team were not left out of the praise for the NFF and its leadership.
“It’s simply the best era in Nigerian football and we pray and hope that it will be sustained in the coming years”, declared an obviously elated Emmanuel Attah, who is the team’s Coordinator. Gangling defence ace, Azubuike Egwuekwe, said he was not too disappointed at Mikel’s loss because head or tail, Nigeria was the champion of the night. “We are sure that Mikel or a Nigerian will win the next award”, he said excitedly.
Team Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun spoke in a similar vein, declaring that with the clean sweep of awards, the year 2014 will be a better one for Nigeria. “Yes we may be a little disappointed that Mikel did not win but are assured that we will do better in the New Year, starting with the CHAN tournament and we will return again next year to take what rightly belongs to us”.
Amokachi, who is normally not used to emotions said there was a lot to cheer from the award ceremony. “We had a clean sweep and we must comment President Maigari and his board but the message is for us to work harder and remain the dominant force in African football”, he said. Team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya, simply said he could not agree more with the deluge of accolades that were poured on Nigerian football and the Maigari led NFF. “Its congratulations and more work to be done”.
