The Nigerian stars were omitted from Africa’s best eleven that was released at the CAF awards on Tuesday night, and that enraged fans who expressed their feelings on social media.
Odion Ighalo and Wilfred Ndidi were missing from the FIFProAfrica’s best XI despite their impressive performance in the year 2019.
Ighalo finished as the top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt with Nigeria winning the bronze medal. Also, Ndidi played an important role for both club and country in the year under review.
The 23-year-old is one of Leicester City’s best player this season. He has played a key role in the Foxes climb up to second on the Premier League table.
Regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, Ndidi has been a protective shield for the Foxes defence, and also a base for Leicester’s attack. He sits top as the player with most tackles and interceptions in the Premier League this season.
He has featured 21 times in the league for Brendan Rodgers side this season, scoring two goals. At the national team level, He played an important role in Super Eagles third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
But despite all his success in 2019, he was not selected as in CAF’s best XI, and that angered fans who believed the award is a popularity contest.
Ndidi needs better PR https://t.co/pjq8U4ChV2
— seyi (@xOluwaseyi) January 7, 2020
All these awards are popularity contest, imagine thinking any of those midfielders outperformed Ndidi in 2019 https://t.co/WcKSUhzxi3
— Ogbeni AyLee (@Mr_Aylee) January 7, 2020
Am also wondering why #Ndidi ain't on this list. I mean who is a better workaholic linking d defence & attack. This is a broad day robbery https://t.co/8DHlGDEsYu
— Abiodun Fred (@abiodunfred) January 8, 2020
Lol Auba didn’t even do anything at the Afcon. The Golden boot winner doesn’t get in the team? Ndidi doesn’t as well shit team https://t.co/hh6DIIoTaK
— 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕤 𝕊𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕓𝕪 🥶 (@dekunle_) January 7, 2020
Where the hell is Ndidi??? Looool https://t.co/VuFGxv3Fdb
— commando (@miyyah___) January 7, 2020
How did Ndidi miss out on FIFPro Africa Best 11#CAFAwards2019
— naosusu (@naosusucare) January 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/Zaddy_nomso/status/1214641131901915136
I’ve said this countless times Ndidi is underrated. Why didn’t he make the list? He play last season was brilliant too… #CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/4XiWWz4Fpc
— Ejiks, CON🦁🦅🌍 (@Ejiks_Opara) January 7, 2020
Jeez……. I'm shook asf😭😭 if aubameyang makes this list ahead of ighalo based on European success how does idriss gueye makes the team ahead of ndidi…… SMH CAF is a joke😂 pic.twitter.com/4ftHNFfr3A
— Rebrick (@rebrik_official) January 7, 2020
They should all go fuck themselves….
Where's Ighalo and Ndidi? WTF is a Gueye Gana? https://t.co/2ZmxwINda4
— Ace♤ecA (@Dozi_e30) January 8, 2020
What ever brought Idrissa Gueye, into this team should have brought Ighalo. It's is either one for the other. Ndidi is suppose to be in this team, Aubameyang wasn't even at AFCON, no club glory whatsoever. Ighalo was the undisputed continental highest goal scorer.#shitCAF https://t.co/OnbKR5ryHI
— Maaruf Yakub (@MaarufYakub) January 7, 2020
How did Gana Gueye and Aubameyang make CAF Team of the Year ahead of Wilfred Ndidi and Odion Ighalo? #CAFAwards2019
— Colin NOT Collins (@ColinUdoh) January 7, 2020
Where is AFCON highest goal scorer?
CAF is terrible in things like this.#CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/Eh6X2XKUaW— AYOOLA RSS TheJourno (@Adelekeayoola1) January 7, 2020
The 2019 FIFProAfrica’s best eleven features two players from Cameroon, three players from Senegal, one player from Ivory Coast, one player from Egypt, one player from Gabon, one player from Algeria and two players from Morocco.