Super Falcons’ Coach, Florence Omagbemi was full of excitement yesterday when the news of her nomination by the World Football governing body (FIFA) for the Coach of the Year award broke out. The other African listed by FIFA yesterday is Gabon striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

While Omagbemi is listed alongside 10 others for the Coach of the Year award, Aubameyang is one of 24 players nominated for The Best Fifa Men’s Player award. The 27-year-old was the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 31 goals for Borussia Dortmund.

Omagbemi screamed at the top of her voice, saying: “I just woke up and about to say my morning prayer when I saw the news of my nomination by FIFA. I give God the glory for this wonderful news and I also thank FIFA for the recognition despite my short period as coach of the Nigerian women national team.”

In December last year, Omagbemi led the Super Falcons to win an eighth continental title in Cameroun, thereby emerging as the first Africa woman to win the AWC title as a player and coach. Former coach of the Super Falcons Uche Eucharia, had retired from playing before the maiden edition of the AWC in 1998 in Abeokuta.Omagbemi said it would be a dream come true if she eventually won the award.

Report by Miyen Akiri