Members of the Nigeria Football Federation who refused to vote for Asisat Osoala during the CAF Awards decided a few days ago have defended themselves.
Assist won, thanks to voters from other countries.
This has sparked a lot of criticism, but the people concerned, Osasu Obayiwuana and Chisom Mbonu, said they did not care.
Obayiwana said on Twitter:
“Right, I understand that some members of Nigerian media are unhappy that I didn’t vote for Asisat Oshoala to become the @CAF_Online AFOTY. That’s a shame. But I am not obliged to vote for her.
“Congratulations to her, on yet another title. But in my opinion, Tabitha Chawinga is the best woman footballer in Africa, bar NONE. The only reason she is not winning the AFOTY title is because she’s Malawian. And they don’t play in the @CAF_AWCON.
“Asisat is a damn good footballer, no question. This is not even the point. It’s just that I don’t think she is the best in Africa for 2019. I didn’t make my @CAF_Online Awards selections based on whether the nominee is from Nigeria or not. I voted based on whether I think, on the facts available to me, they are the best in Africa at the present time.”
“My duty, as a voter, is not to Nigeria, but to African football. If I think a Nigerian player is the best, I wouldn’t hesitate to vote for him or her. But I wouldn’t vote for them just because they are Nigerian. I have a professional reputation to protect, in all that I do,” he explained.
And Mbonu:
“I voted the way I felt was right based on facts and stats. The backlash is expected. Even the insults. But, it is everyone’s right to post and feel as they do. I have received praises from people in the past and I will take the bashing now. That’s life,” she wrote on Twitter.
