Coach of Nigeria’s women national team Thomas Dennerby has shared his thoughts on Super Falcons duo Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega standing a good chance of being handed the Africa Women Player of the Year 2018 award at the expense of Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa. According to Dennerby: “I’m very happy for both Oshoala and Ordega making it to the final three of the Best African Female Player Award.”

The Super Falcons coach added: “Both players have been spectacular in their unique ways both in their club sides and at the just concluded Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. It shows that they have done remarkably well to be nominated and they just have to keep on working hard.”

Nigeria won the 2018 AWCON held in Ghana late last year, recovering from an opening game defeat in the group stage against South Africa to make it all the way to the final where the team met with Banyana Banyana again, playing out a goalless draw before prevailing via a penalty shoot-out. The title was a record ninth win for the Super Falcons who qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup along with South Africa and Cameroon.

Dennerby also felt his players held an advantage over South Africa’s Kgatlana, who ended the AWCON as the most valuable player ahead of Ordega and Oshoala. “For me, I see the Nigerian players at a better advantage, if only the organisers can remember the last tournament but when we are picking tbe best of the year, then we must be talking about a whole year, adding what happens in the leagues,” the Falcons boss added.

While he failed to name an outright favourite for the Women’s player of the year award, Dennerby still felt Ordega and Oshoala stand a better chance of winning the award despite Kgatlana’s AWCON heroics. “It is hard to say who will win but I think that they have a good chance if you look at the whole 2018 performances of Oshoala and Ordega in their respective club sides.”