The International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja will be agog tonight as the 2016 edition of the GLO-CAF Awards will hold at the venue.
No fewer than four Nigerians are hopeful of winning awards in their categories.
Super Falcons coach, Florence Omagbemi, who led the team to win the 10th African Women’s Nations Cup recently in Cameroon will battle it out with two male coaches in the National Coach of the Year category. She has Florent Ibenge (DR Congo national team) and Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns) as contestants.
For the Women’s Player of the Year category, Super Falcons and Arsenal Ladies striker, Asisat Oshoala, who emerged as top scorer in Cameroon will battle it out with Elizabeth Addo (Ghana & Kvarnsvedensik) and Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene (Cameroon & Rossyanka).
Super Eagles and Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho is in the Most Promising Talent category alongside Elia Meschak (DR Congo & TP Mazembe) and Naby Keita (Guinea & RB Leipzig).
Arsenal striker, Alex Iwobi is listed in the Youth Player of the Year Category alongside Eric Ayiah (Ghana And Charity FC) and Sandra Owusu-Ansah (Ghana and Supreme Ladies).
Other categories are:
The African Player of the Year award category
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool).
African Player of the Year – Based in Africa
Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Rainford Kalaba (Zambia & TP Mazembe).
Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns,
TP Mazembe,
Zesco United
National Team of the Year
DR Congo,
Senegal,
Uganda
Women’s National Team of the Year
Cameroon,
Nigeria,
South Africa
Referee of the Year
Bakary Papa Gassama
Ghead Zaglol Grisha
Malang Diedhiou
Football Leader of the Year
Manuel Lopes Nascimento, President of Guinea Bissau Football Federation
Legend Award
Laurent Pokou, Former player of Cote d’Ivoire
Emilienne Mbango, Former player of Cameroon.
Recall that Aubameyang won the African Player of the Year award in 2015 for his impressive form for Bundesliga side, Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, veteran Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) and popular sports presenter Mimi Fawaz have been announced by the organisers as hosts of the event.
