The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged football stakeholders across the country to rally behind former Super Falcons chief coach, Florence Omagbemi in the ongoing “Vote for The Best FIFA Football Awards’’.
In a statement issued on Tuesday to sports journalists, by its Secretary-General, Olawale Alabi, SWAN said this was necessary because any honour done to Omagbemi would be an honour done to Nigeria.
It will be recalled that world football governing body, FIFA, had on Thursday named the former Super Falcons captain as one of the 10 nominees shortlisted for the “Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2017’’ award.
The former midfielder, who was the only woman nominated for CAF’s “African Coach of the Year 2016’’ award, is the only African on the shortlist and one of the three women nominated.
Omagbemi, who led the Super Falcons to victory at the 2016 African Women Championship (AWC) in Cameroon, has been selected by a panel of women football experts.
“This is recognition by the world football family that she is one of the best women football coaches in the world, and this therefore deserves to be celebrated.
“But we need to go beyond this. We need to go for the opportunity to be the best, and not to remain as one of the best. Therefore, we need to help in ensuring she is picked as the best.
“And we can only ensure this by being involved in the voting process that is ongoing,’’ SWAN said in the statement.
The association said Nigerians should support the former national team captain by getting involved in the ongoing voting process online immediately.
“We can all do this by going to FIFA’s website, www.fifa.com, to be part of the process.
“We can also do this on the world football body’s social media accounts, such as `@FIFAcom’ on Twitter, using `#TheBest’, on Instagram, and on `The Best FIFA Football Awards’ official Facebook page,’’ it said.
The voting process began on Monday and will end on September 7, with FIFA announcing a final shortlist of three in each category of the four awards later in September.
The awards ceremony will take place in London on October 23rd, 2017.
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