Osimhen, Oshoala make final shortlists for CAF best player awards

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have made the final shortlists for the annual Confederation of African Football (CAF) men and women’s player of the year awards, respectively.

According to a list released by the CAF on Thursday, the 24-year-old Napoli forward will slug it out with Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi for the men’s award.

Favourite for the highest individual honour in Africa, Osimhen led Napoli to its first Italian Serie A title in 30 years last season.

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 was also named in Serie A best XI for last season.

Oshoala, the 27-year-old Barcelona Femeni forward, was shortlisted alongside South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Barbara Banda of Zambia.

The Nigerian, who became the first woman to claim the award for a record fifth time in 2022, would be up for a record-extending sixth honour.

The Ikorodu-born speedster won the 2023 Women’s UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in June.

The 2023 edition of the award ceremony will be held at the Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco, on December 11.

See the full list of nominees below:

Player of the Year (Men)

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women)

• Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
• Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
• Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men)

• Fiston Mayele (DR Congo, Pyramids)
• Peter Shalulile (Namibia, Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women)

• Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
• Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Coach of the Year (Men)

• Abdelhak Benchika (Algeria, Simba SC)
• Walid Regragui (Morocco)
• Aliou Cisse (Senegal)

Coach of the Year (Women)

• Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
• Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
• Jerry Tshabalala (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)

• Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)
• Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly)
• Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)

• Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
• Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
• Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Young Player of the Year (Men)

• Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco, Real Betis)
• Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)
• Amara Diouf (Senegal, Metz)

Young Player of the Year (Women)

• Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
• Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
• Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburgh Panthers)

National Team of the Year (Men)

• Gambia
• Morocco
• Senegal

National Team of the Year (Women)

• Morocco
• Nigeria
• South Africa

Club of the Year (Men)

• Al Ahly (Egypt)
• Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Club of the Year (Women)

• AS FAR (Morocco)
• Sporting Casablanca (Morocco)
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)