It’s been excitement among Nigerian football lovers following some posts made by the Confederation of African Football, (CAF), after the football governing body tweeted in some Nigerian local languages.
CAF joined a host of other people across the world in celebrating Nigerian trio Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie after they were recognised as the best players and goalkeeper in Africa on Monday night while also celebrating the Super Falcons team that emerged as the best Women’s team on the continent.
Osimhen was named African Footballer of The Year after beating Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to the award at a ceremony in Marrakech on Monday, with compatriot Oshoala winning the top prize in the women’s category.
Nnadozie beat fellow goalkeepers in the form of Moroccan shot-stopper Khadija El-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Olaminii to claim the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year for 2023.
The achievement means Osimhen became the first Nigeria to win the men’s best player award for the first time since 1999 after Kanu Nwankwo claimed the honour. But for Oshoala, it was a record-extending sixth award and the first for Nnadozie.
In celebrating the Nigerians and the women’s team, CAF in a series of posts on their official X handle has been tweeted in Yoruba, Igbo and, pidgin languages.
One of the tweets in Yoruba read, “Mo so fun yin o #CAFAwards2023”
Another tweet in pidgin read, “Naija full ground, Naija gather dey, Naija no dey carry last!”
Tweeting in Igbo, CAF wrote, “Osi na nwata buru ogaranya 1! Inspiring the next generation with greatness.”
Reactions to the tweets:
JosephOnuorah: “This guy na one of us – Nothing anyone can tell me! Proper naija boy behind the CAF handle 😂 We see you bro 😎”
Klinsdon: “Admin where are you from? You speak Yoruba and now Igbo! 😂. This admin must be a Nigerian. You spoke our languages including pidgin English! I twalle for you jor! 🙌”
Aisah Baby: “Globally recognised. Yoruba too sweet.”
Otunba GCFRN: “Thank you #CAF_Online. Yoruba to the world!”
Unjoerated Joe: “Igbo to the world.”