Osimhen makes 2023 CAF Best Player award final shortlist

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen made the final shortlist for the 2023 CAF Best Player award, a statement from the continent’s football governing body disclosed.

“CAF has announced the shortlists for the men’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023,” CAF statement read in part on Friday.

Interestingly, the Napoli forward is the only Nigerian to make the cut and will be aiming to seal off an impressive year in which he won the Italian Scuddeto and top scorer gong in the italian topflight. Additionally, Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards held in the French city of Paris recently.

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Aside from the Nigerian, other top players who made the final 10 cut for the CAF award include current holder and Senegalese forward Sadio Mane; Riyad Mahrez of Algeria; and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi among others.

The eventual winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head coaches, and captains of member associations as well as clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions,” CAF submitted.

Meanwhile, CAF also released the final shortlist for Goalkeeper of the Year (MEN) award alongside Africa’s finest final shortlist for Coach of the Year (MEN) award.

The Awards Gala is slated for Monday, 11 December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco.