Osimhen named CAF men’s player of the year — first Nigerian since 1999

Victor Osimhen, Super Eagles striker, has been crowned 2023 CAF men’s ‘Player of the Year.’

The 24-year-old was announced the winner of the gong at the gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday.

Osimhen garnered the highest votes to defeat Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi of Morroco to win the coveted individual prize for male African footballers.

The Napoli striker became the first Nigerian to win the CAF men’s Player of the Year since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Osimhen had a laurel-laden 2023, which started with leading Napoli to the club’s first Italian Serie A title in 30 years.

The Eagles striker scored 25 league goals to become the league’s highest goalscorer, setting the record as the first African footballer to achieve the feat.

He was also instrumental for Nigeria during the AFCON 2024 qualification campaign and was the top goalscorer in the series with ten goals.

Osimhen was named the eighth best male footballer in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October. He finished higher than any other Africans on the list. He also became the first Nigerian to be named in the top ten of the Ballon d’Or.

He recently won the Italian Footballers’ Association (IFA) Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 season, in which he was the highest goalscorer in the league with 25 goals.

Osimhen joins the illustrious list of male Nigerian footballers who have men named the best players on the continent. The list includes Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Kanu, who won the prize twice.