Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and his compatriot Asisat Oshoala were voted best African players of the year 2023, during a ceremony organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco.
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Victor Osimhen African Player of the Year. The Nigerian striker, Italian champion with Naples last season and quarter-finalist of the last Champions League, was in competition for this award with the Egyptian Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and the Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi (Paris SG).
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“This is a dream come true for me. I would like to thank everyone who has accompanied me throughout my journey to realize my dreams and achieve my goals,” said the 24-year-old while receiving his award .
The “masked striker”, author of six goals in the league this season, had scored 26 during the previous year, largely contributing to the Neapolitans’ third title and the first since the Diego Maradona era.
Since a brutal shock at the end of 2021 which caused him multiple fractures of the eye socket and left cheekbone, the Nigerian international striker has played with a protective mask bearing the VO9 logo, which has become a fetish object coveted by fans. supporters.
Osimhen succeeds the Senegalese Sadio Mané, distinguished in 2022. The last Nigerian player to be crowned was Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Sixth coronation for Asisat Oshoala
Her compatriot Asisat Oshoala, who plays for FC Barcelona, was distinguished among women at the same ceremony.
Star scorer for the Super Falcons, Oshoala, 29, was one of the centerpieces of the Nigerian selection which reached the round of 16 of the Football World Cup this summer in Oceania before being eliminated by England on penalties.
Oshoala has racked up trophies with Barca this season, winning the Champions League, despite withdrawing from the final against Wolfsburg due to injury, as well as the Spanish Championship and Cup.
She was competing for the best African player award with South African Thembi Kgatlana and Zambian Barbara Banda.
Morocco, semi-finalist of the World Cup at the end of 2022, saw its coach Walid Regragui awarded the title of best coach of the year while its goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was elected best goalkeeper.
With AFP