Lagos, Nigeria | NOW THEN DIGITAL — On Monday, during a ceremony orchestrated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the enchanting city of Marrakesh, Morocco, Victor Osimhen, Napoli’s Nigerian forward, clinched the coveted title of men’s African player of the year.
The Nigerian Prince becomes King! 🤴
🇳🇬 Victor Osimhen is the 2023 Men's Player of the Year! 🤩
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑! 🔝 #CAFAwards2023 | @victorosimhen9 pic.twitter.com/WFVUBaqWkx
— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 11, 2023
Having steered Napoli to clinch the Italian League title last season, Osimhen outshone competitors such as Achraf Hakimi, the right-back from Paris Saint-Germain, and Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian winger from Liverpool, to secure the prestigious award.
Reflecting on his triumph, Osimhen exclaimed, “It’s a dream come true for me.” Grateful for the unwavering support from his fellow Nigerians and the continent at large, he expressed appreciation for Africa putting him on the map and standing by him despite his imperfections.
Osimhen’s exceptional performance last season saw him netting an impressive 31 goals across all competitions, pivotal to Napoli’s 33-year-long awaited Italian League title victory.
With Napoli valuing Osimhen at around 200 million euros ($215 million), the 24-year-old striker’s journey to success began when European scouts spotted him at the 2015 under-17 World Cup in Chile, leading him to join Wolfsburg in Germany. A subsequent stint with Charleroi in Belgium preceded his permanent move to Lille in France in 2019, where he scored 13 goals in 27 appearances.
Napoli secured Osimhen’s services in 2020 for a hefty sum of 70 million euros ($75 million). However, his journey was not without challenges, as he battled through COVID-19, a head injury, and a fractured skull and eye socket. The media even dubbed him the “masked assassin” due to the protective mask he had to wear during his recovery.
Despite missing the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations due to his injuries, Osimhen emerged as the leading scorer in the qualifying rounds for the 2024 Cup of Nations, scheduled to be hosted by Ivory Coast from January 13.
His goal tally included four in a remarkable 10-0 victory against Sao Tome e Principe, setting a record-winning margin for a qualifier in the competition.
However, Osimhen’s journey was marred by recurring injuries, with a recent setback being a hamstring injury suffered during a friendly match against Saudi Arabia two months ago. Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, expressed frustration with Osimhen’s frequent absences, going so far as to declare that he would refrain from signing more African players unless they agreed to skip the Cup of Nations.
In contrast, Morocco celebrated notable achievements at the awards ceremony, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, coach Walid Regragui, and their team receiving honors for their outstanding performances, including reaching the World Cup semi-finals.
Meanwhile, in the realm of women’s football, Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala achieved a Nigerian double by clinching the African Women’s Player of the Year for an unprecedented sixth time. Hailing from Ikorodu, northeast of Lagos, Oshoala’s previous victories came in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022. After stints with Nigerian clubs Robo and Rivers Angels, as well as spells with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Dalian Quanjian, Oshoala solidified her place in Barcelona four years ago.
Oshoala’s noteworthy contribution included a goal in Nigeria’s victory over co-hosts Australia, propelling them to the round of 16 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they eventually succumbed to England in a penalty shootout.
THE SIXTH! 🤩
Asisat Oshoala is the 2023 Women’s Player of the Year! 🤩
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑! 🔝 #CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/HKYPhnXXWP
— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 11, 2023
