SUPER Falcons legend Mercy Akide-Udoh has described her CAF Awards win in 2001 as ‘special’, while charging the Nigerian senior national teams to win their tournaments next year.

The former Nigeria striker won the first-ever African Player of the Year award for women in 2001, setting the stage for the likes of Cynthia Uwak, Perpetua Nkwocha and record six-time winner Asisat Oshoala.

Akide, who won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with the Super Falcons in 1998, 2000 and 2002, was in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday to see her compatriots steal the show.

Nigeria swept the big prizes on a glorious night for the country as Victor Osimhen was named Player of the Year, Oshoala Player of the Year (Women), Chiamaka Nnadozie Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) and the Super Falcons National Team of the Year (Women).

“I feel blessed to have been the first woman to win this award back then,” Akide-Udoh said.

“It was very special and I think it was the beginning of recognition for women’s football in Africa.

“I am excited that other Nigerians have done it again and I hope that we will see more of this in future. If anybody had told me that it would take so many years before another Nigerian man would win it again, I don’t think any of us would have believed it, but that’s football and God knows best.

“I am proud of all the winners and I hope that as Nigeria has won so many awards tonight, this will be the start of more success for our football, from the AFCON in January to the women winning their own too and then to the FIFA World Cup.”

Osimhen was the first Nigerian man to win the main award since Kanu’s success 24 years ago and the Napoli striker will be the key man for the Super Eagles as they seek their first Africa Cup of Nations since 2013 at the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire in January and February next year.

[NaijaTimes]