…that tops up Nigeria’s 24yrs wait
Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, has emerged as the CAF 2023 Player of the Year in the men category.
He beat Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward, Mohamed Salah, to the coveted prize on Monday at Marakesh in Morocco.
Osimhen had an outstanding year last season playing a crucial role in his team Serie A title win after 33 years’ wait.
The Super Eagles forward continental accolade ended Nigeria’s 24-year-old wait for Africa’s top individual prize last won by Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
Osimhen scored 26 goals in the league to become the first African to win the Pichichi (top scorer) award, breaking George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring player from the continent in the Italian top flight.
His impeccable form earned him a place the Serie A Team of the Year and he also clinched the Best Striker prize.
Earlier, Osimhen came 8th in the 2023 Ballon d’Or ranking, becoming the highest-ranked African for the year and the most-ranked Nigerian in the history of the award.
Earlier in the month, the 24-year-old was crowned as Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, becoming the first African to win the award.