Golden boy Victor James Osimhen continued his winning ways on and off the pitch as he wins African Footballer of the Year 2023. It is the most prestigious football prize in Africa that he snagged last night in Rabat, Morocco.
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The 24-year old discovery from the slums of Lagos Nigeria, ended his country’s 24 years wait for the diadem. Nwankwo Kanu was Nigeria’s last winner of the men’s award in 1999.
Unlike the men, however, Nigeria continued its supremacy in female football as Asisat Oshoala, the Barcelona forward, won the same prize in the women’s category.
It is a record sixth win.
Osimhen has become something of a folk hero in Napoli where he topped the Serie A scoring charts last season with 26 goals. His goals also helped Napoli FC end a 33-year drought in the search of championship glory.
The votes went to Osimhen in first place, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (Liverpool FC) in second place and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) in third.
Panelists who vote for the award include Confederation of African Football (CAF) technical committee, African journalists and broadcasters and head coaches and captains of national teams and leading African clubs.
“It is a dream come true,” Osimhen said during a short acceptance speech.
He thanked Nigerian international Emmanuel Amuneke who discovered and helped him start off his professional career. He also appreciated the advice and encouragement of Beninois international Emmanuel Adebayo for his encouragement. Incidentally, both Emmanuels are past winners of the award, Amuneke in 1994 and Adebayor in 2008.
A lineup of Nigerians that have won the award include Rashidi Yekini (1993), Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999), and Victor Ikpeba (1997). No other Nigerian man won from the turn of this century until Osimhen broke the jinx last night.
Oshoala in sixth win
Oshoala defeated South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbra Banda to take the title to Nigeria for the six-time.
Her winning votes were in appreciation of the magnificent performance she put up for Nigeria at the last female World Cup. Her goals powered Nigerian into the last 16 before the team was edged out by England on penalties.
She is also a winner with her big Spanish Club, Barcelona, which won the Women’s Champion League this year.
For their performance at the World Cup finals in Qatar last year, Morocco won the team of the year for men. Predictably, their manager Walid Regragui won the men’s coach of the year. In the women category, Nigeria again took the top prize for the best team while South Africa’s Desiree Ellis won for the coach category. It was her fourth straight win.
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