Super Falcons midfielder Jennifer Echejinni has voiced her disappointment after several of her teammates missed out on major honours at the recent Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Echejinni expressed frustration following the failure of Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo to clinch the Women’s African Player of the Year prize. She also lamented the omission of Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu from the Coach of the Year winners.
In a chat with Osasu Obayiuwana, the midfielder openly questioned the basis on which the award recipients were selected.
“It’s difficult. I think we deserved it 100%. I don’t know what criteria they are using for the selection,” Echejinni stated.
While she noted that she does not usually dwell on individual accolades, she admitted that Okoronkwo’s absence from the final three-player shortlist for the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award was particularly painful.
“As much as I am upset for the team, I don’t really think too much about it, but Okoronkwo not winning or even making CAF’s final AFOTY shortlist of three really upset me, actually,” she added. “I am sure she is disappointed. She deserved to be in the top three at least.”
Nigeria’s women’s national team enjoyed a strong campaign during the year under review, with several players delivering standout performances for both club and country. Despite those achievements, the Super Falcons representatives were overlooked in the major individual categories, a development that has generated widespread debate among players and supporters.