Mercy Akide-Udoh Recalls Double With Nwankwo Kanu

FIFA Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Football and Nigeria legend Mercy Akide-Udoh Monday night recalled when she won the CAF Women’s Player of the Year and standing on the same podium with Nwankwo Kanu who was crowned the winner of the men’s category of the award.

Akide-Udoh fondly called ‘Marvelous Mercy’ in her playing days with the Super Falcons, was excited seeing Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen repeating that feat on Monday night.

“I feel blessed to have been the first woman to win this award back then in 1999. Winning it at the same time with a legend and fellow Nigerian like (Nwankwo) Kanu was very special and I think it was the beginning of recognition for women’s football in Africa.

“I am excited that other Nigerians have done it again and I hope that we will see more of this in future. If anybody had told me that it would take so many years before another Nigerian man would win it again, I don’t think any of us would have believed it, but that’s football and God knows best.

“I am proud of all the winners and I hope that as Nigeria has won so many awards tonight, this will be the start of more success for our football, from the AFCON in January to the women winning their own too and then to the FIFA World Cup.”