Chris Maduewesi
Member
With all the hue and cry over the non-awarding of the 2013 African Player of the Year award to John Obi Mikel,it certainly wasn't all gloom and doom for Nigerian football in the past year.
That Nigeria had a clean sweep at the event on January 9,2014 is not really drummed about like the much fuss about Yaya Toure landing his third consecutive titles as player of the year.
If anything,the CAF awards buttressed that Nigerian football is back again on the rise. That we are being touted as one of the best on the continent has never been in doubt,but at some point we were on the verge of not getting reckoned as one.
Prior to 2013,Nigeria has in the last decade made peripheral appearances at the CAF awards,in fact our representations have come from the female teams.
Since 2004,the CAF awards have been dominated by either the Egyptians,Ivorians or Cameroonians,much to the fact that Nigeria have not really fared very well in the biennial African Cup of Nations competition.
Fast forward to 2013,in a chilly night in Johannesburg when a solitary goal from Sunday Mba helped the Super Eagles pip Burkina Faso to win the Nations Cup trophy; the tune of the music as expected changed to Nigeria's.
Though Nigeria didn't cross the group stages of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil,spirited performances in the losses to Uruguay and Spain inspired hope for the future.
Then in October,Nigeria's Golden Eaglets with some scintillating displays wowed the world to win the FIFA under 17 World Cup for a record fourth time.
The Golden Eaglets inspired thoughts that Nigeria was on the right paths,and also that a pool of talents is in abundance within the confines of this territory.
It was only natural that the preceding continental award would have Nigeria's seal on virtually all the nominations.
Nigeria's aura was felt at the Gala event held in Lagos,and it was no surprise Nigeria ended up with six awards.
But the bitter taste of seeing Mikel not crowned African Player of the year,was galling for some fans to swallow.
Not many believe that a Nigerian being in the last three for the first time in almost ten years can be viewed as a plus.
In fact the last time a Nigerian made the last three was in 2004 that former Super Eagles captain,Austin Jay Jay Okocha lost out to Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o.
In all these recognition though,there should be a place for the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari.
The NFF to its credit successfully executed Nigeria's task on the global scene,ensuring that the country put up a good showing at the respective competitions the various National teams played in.
Yes it was a good year for Nigerian football but it didn't come without some skirmishes.
Perhaps the biggest smear on our football was owing of Stephen Keshi several months of his entitled salary. Certainly not a great PR for Nigerian football to someone who heralded the genesis of successes recorded last year.
Other notable events that showed Nigerian football still haven't gotten there yet,was last June when the Super Eagles refused to travel to Brazil over the slashing of their match bonuses,after their World Cup qualifier against Namibia in Windhoek.
The shame it brought on the country from the international community was immeasurable,because at some point many thought Nigeria would boycott the 2013 Confederations Cup.
Thanks to the Sports Commission who constantly bailed the NFF out of jail and helped them weather the storm arising from poor management.
However,the cheery on the cake for Nigerian football in 2013 was qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria seemingly qualified for the global fiesta effortlessly unlike in previous editions that qualification hinged on other people doing them a favour.
The Super Eagles controlled their destiny from day one and ended the year on which started on a high,with another high;World Cup qualification.
Mikel winning player of the year or not,what is definitely not disputable is that any country who clinches the following awards in a year should certainly be buzzing.
National Team of the Year : Super Eagles of Nigeria
Youth National Team of the Year: Golden Eaglets of Nigeria
CAF Fair Play award: Supporters Club of Nigeria
Coach of the year : Stephen Keshi (Super Eagles coach)
Most Promising Talent: Kelechi Iheanacho(Nigeria)
Platinum Award : President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria