Oshoala, Onuachu reign as NFF-Aiteo Awards honours 1999 Super Falcons

Super Eagles’ striker, Paul Onuachu and Super Falcons’ Captain, Asisat Oshoala, were the stars of the night at the 2021 NFF-Aiteo Awards held at the Eko Hotels, Lagos, on Monday.

Dedicated to the 1999 class of Super Falcons, the third edition of the yearly awards was a gathering of top football personalities from across the world, including FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, CAF President, Patrice Motsepe and South Africa’s Danny Jordaan, as well as top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials.

Onuachu, who was one of the top strikers in Europe last season, won the Best Performance of the Year (Men; Overseas-based) award, while Oshoala was declared Best Performance of the Year (Women; Overseas-based).

Silas Nwankwo and Charles Atshimene, who shared the honours of top scorer in the last NPFL season with 19 goals, were joint winners of the Best Performance of the Year (Men; Nigeria-based), while Gift Monday, top scorer in the NWFL season, was crowned best performer (women) on the home front.

Akwa United FC, Bayelsa United FC, Kennedy, Boboye, Moses Adukwu, Joseph Ogabor, Patience Madu, Ahmed Musa and NFFTV and NPFLTV were other winners, while Princess Bola Ngozi Jegede was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award (collected by her son, Christopher). There were also post-humous awards to Prince Larry Eze and Ms. Henrietta Ukaigwe for contributions to women football development.

Lagos State was honoured with Host State of the Year and Edo State was recognised with Award of Commitment to Women Football Excellence.

Fourteen of the 1999 Super Falcons’ 20-woman squad were present on the night, including Nkiru Okosieme, Rita Nwadike, Mercy Akide, Ann Chiejine, Yinka Kudaisi, Marvis Ogun, Maureen Mmadu, Stella Mbachu, Gloria Usieta, Adanna Nwaneri, Florence Iweta, Nkechi Egbe, Judith Chime and Martha Tarhemba. The deceased Ifeanyi Chiejine was represented by her sister.

Speaking, NFF President and FIFA Council member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, praised Aisha Buhari, in whose name the six-nation invitational tournament, which ended yesterday in Lagos, was held, and disclosed that her passion, interest, attention and commitment to the challenges confronting women, the girl-child and the less privileged in general motivated the Aisha Buhari Cup event. The First Lady was honoured with the award of Best Supporter of Women’s Football.