Florence Omagbemi shortlisted for FIFA Women's Coach Award

By Taofeek Babalola

Former Super Falcons coach, Florence Omogbemi has been listed among the 10 nominees for the Best FIFA Women's Coach of the Year Award.

Omagbemi’s name was among the candidates which were announced by FIFA on Thursday for four individual trophies, which will be presented at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on 23 October 2017.

According to FIFA, two panels of renowned experts from across the six confederations decided upon the shortlisted candidates for the top performers of the 2016/17 season. The women’s awards take into account the period between 20 November 2016 and 6 August 2017.

The ex-international earned his place in the list following her achievement with the Nigeria female national team.  Omagbemi led the Super Falcons to their eighth CAF Africa Women's Cup of Nations title last year.

Following a distinguished playing career during which she featured in four FIFA Women's World Cups and graced the Olympic Women's Football Tournament, former midfielder Omagbemi moved into coaching to continue her personal quest to further the game's development in Africa.

After cutting her teeth with the Nigeria Football Federation as an assistant coach at youth level, she subsequently took the reins of the senior national team.

Last year, Omagbemi led the Super Falcons to their eighth CAF Africa Women's Cup of Nations title. Having lifted the trophy four times during her playing days, this also made her just the second woman, after Eucharia Uche, to win the competition as both a player and a coach. This achievement earned her plaudits aplenty; indeed, she was the sole female nominee for CAF's 2016 African Coach of the Year award.

SHOTLISTED CANDIDATES:

Florence OMOGBEMI (NIGERIA)

Olivier ECHOUAFNI (FRANCE)

Emma HAYES (ENGLAND)

Ralf KELLERMANN (GERMANY)

Xavier LLORENS (SPAIN)

Nils NIELSEN (DENMARK)

Gerard PRECHEUR (FRANCE)

Dominik THALHAMMER (AUSTRIA)

Sarina WIEGMAN (NETHERLANDS)

HWANG Yongbong (KOREA DPR)