Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has won the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award.
He saw off competition from Senegal’s Sadio Mane, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, among others.
The award came on the heels of a fantastic year for the Super Eagles striker, whose historic performance in the royal Moroccan city of Marakesh ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s top individual medal. In 1999, the great Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian to earn the honor.
The trophy celebrates Osimhen’s contributions to both his Napoli club and the national team, where he plays a key role. He led the Italian team to an incredible Serie A victory, scoring 26 goals, and became the first African to receive the Pichichi (top scorer) trophy. His goal broke George Weah’s record for the most goals scored by an African player in the Italian top division.
Napoli last won the Scudetto with the renowned Diego Maradona in 1983. The former Lille striker’s excellent performance in the 2022–23 season won him a position on the Serie A Team of the Year as well as the Best Striker title.
Osimhen’s selection for the 2023 Ballon d’Or was a tribute to his contributions to the Serie A team’s historic accomplishment. He came in eighth place, making him the highest-ranked African for the year and the highest-ranked Nigerian in the award’s history.
The Nigerian was crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year earlier this month, making him the first African to do so.
Though Nigeria nearly missed out on a spot in the 2022 World Cup, losing to perennial rivals Ghana, Osimhen’s contributions to the Super Eagles were significant in the year under review. He topped the qualification race for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with ten goals.
Despite the fact that injuries have limited his appearances for Napoli this season, with only six goals in 10 games for Walter Mazzari’s team, Monday’s award is the summit of a hugely successful year for the Nigerian striker.