45th Swag Awards Elizabeth Addo Wins Womens Footballer of The Year

The conversation surrounding female football in Ghana often comes with a lot of frustration. Fans always complain that our brilliant women do not get the same attention or financial support as the men.

Yet, these ladies continue to raise the flag of the nation very high on the international stage. Sunday, October 11, 2020, brought a massive shift in that narrative as the sports community gathered for a historic celebration.

The 45th MTN Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards officially took over the Accra International Conference Centre. It was an evening filled with glitz, glamour, and well-deserved standing ovations for our local sports heroes.

The atmosphere inside the hall felt electric as sports journalists and administrators eagerly waited to crown the ultimate winners. Everyone wanted to see which athletes truly dominated the year under review.

When it came to the highly anticipated female soccer category, one name completely stole the show. Black Queens captain Elizabeth Addo gracefully walked away with the prestigious Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

The China Domination That Secured the Crown

Winning a major award in Ghana requires more than just regular local performances. You need a track record that makes it impossible for the critics to argue with the final logic.

Elizabeth Addo did exactly that by putting on a football masterclass far away in Asia. She spent her season completely dominating the Chinese top-flight league with her club side, Jiangsu Suning.

She did not just play matches; she lifted trophies like they were ordinary groceries. Addo helped her team secure a historic quadruple by winning four major trophies in a single calendar year.

Her incredible versatility in midfield and sharp attacking instincts made Jiangsu Suning completely unstoppable in China. She proved to the entire world that Ghanaian talent can thrive anywhere given the right platform.

It is quite funny how we sometimes look down on women’s leagues until our players start winning trophies in bulk. Her exceptional club form made her the most logical choice for the top individual crown.

Beating Hard Competition in a Tough Category

The race for the 45th SWAG Women’s Footballer of the Year was never a one-sided affair. Addo had to overcome some of the finest talents Ghana has produced in recent times.

She faced heavy competition from fellow national team stars Grace Asantewaa and Jane Egyiri. Both nominees enjoyed fantastic seasons and had their own passionate groups of fans pushing for them.

Asantewaa has been a foundational rock in midfield, while Egyiri continues to terrorize defenders with her incredible pace. Seeing these three names on the shortlist alone shows the deep pool of talent we possess.

However, the SWAG panel looked at the sheer weight of Addo’s achievements and handed her the victory. Leading the Black Queens as captain while collecting four trophies abroad is a level of leadership that is hard to match.

This specific victory brings huge satisfaction to fans who want to see our female leaders properly celebrated. It proves that hard work eventually breaks through any systemic neglect or lack of media hype.

A Massive Wake-Up Call for Corporate Ghana

While we celebrate this big win in October 2020, we must also look at the reality on the ground. Our local women’s league still faces huge challenges regarding sponsorship and basic infrastructure.

It takes a lot of personal sacrifice for players like Elizabeth Addo to break out and reach this elite status. Imagine how many more trophies Ghana would win if we invested heavily in our local female teams.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports needs to use this celebratory moment to draft a proper development plan. We cannot rely solely on the individual brilliance of players who secure foreign contracts to save our national teams.

Corporate bodies should also look at the massive marketing potential inside women’s football. SWAG has shown that the platform is ready, and the athletes are highly disciplined and professional.

Elizabeth Addo has set a brilliant standard for every young girl wearing football boots in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. Her journey teaches us that your current background does not define the limits of your global success.

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