Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has been crowned the 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year.
The historic ceremony that held on Monday night in Marrakech, Morocco, has strengthened his ranking as one of the best football players in the world.
The Super Eagles forward was selected as Africa’s best player ahead of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi.
Osimhen’s historic feat in the imperial Moroccan City of Marakesh ended Nigeria’s 24-year-old wait for Africa’s top individual prize, as well as put a stop to the dominance by Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Legendary Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian to win the award in 1999, and amazingly, Osimhen is the first Nigerian to win the CAF prize since 1999.
The Super Eagles forward becomes the sixth Nigerian to win the African Footballer of the Year award.
In the last 2022/2023 football season, the Nigerian striker inspired his Italian club side, Napoli, win their third Scudetto 33 years after the era of the late Argentinian legend, Diego Maradona.
Osimhen recorded to his name 26 goals in the league, becoming the first African to win the top scorer award in the domestic Serie A league.
Following, Osimhen clinched the Italian league’s best striker prize and was included in the Serie A Team of the Year.
The Napoli forward surpassed George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring African player in the Italian league.
His compatriot Asisat Oshoala won the Woman’s Best Player of the Year while Morocco’s Walid Regragui was named Coach of the Year.
On the other hand, Nigerian star Chiamaka Nnadozie was selected as the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
Morocco’s Yassine Bounou was named Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
So much is expected from Victor Osimhen at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals to uplift an underperforming Nigeria team.
