Napoli Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has won 2023 CAF Africa Footballer of the Year award.
The awards gala took place on Monday, December 11, at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.
Osimhen is first Nigerian player to be named African men’s player of the year in 24 years after Nwankwo Kanu claimed the coveted award in 1999.
Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke and Victor Ikpeba are the only other Nigerians who were previously named the best players on the continent.
Kanu, however, remains the only one to have won the award more than once (1996 and 1999).
Osimhen battled with Morocco’s Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah to emerge as winner.
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The 24-year-old has been in fine form for Napoli in the past 12 months guiding the Serie A club to their first league victory in 33 years and scoring a league-high 26 goals in 32 Serie A games last season, and 31 goals across all competitions.
For his impressive performance in Italy, the Nigerian won the Serie A Best Striker, Paolo Rossi and Italian Footballers’ Association Player of The Year awards.
He also received a nomination for the Ballon d’Or and is in the running for the Globe Soccer award.
Also, Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala extended her record-breaking reign, emerging as Women’s CAF Player of the year.
Oshoala helped Barcelona claim the UEFA Women’s Champions League, while also guiding the Catalans to a league victory as they went unbeaten the whole season.
