Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 CAF Player of the Year following his heroics for Nigeria and his club, Napoli.
The Super Eagles hit-man claimed the CAF gong at Monday’s awards ceremony in Marrakech after his goals inspired Napoli’s league title triumph last season and he emerged the top scorer of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers with 10 goals.
Osimhen saw off challenges from Morocco full-back Achraf Hakimi, who plays for PSG of France and Egypt striker Mohammed Salah, who scored his 200th goal for Liverpool at the weekend, to land African football’s biggest individual prize.
Osimhen is now the first Nigerian winner of the men’s award since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999 after another prolific campaign.
The women’s category was also won by Nigeria and Barcelona striker, Asisat Oshoala. The 29-year-old striker beat South African Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda to retain her crown.
Oshoala was Barcelona’s top scorer last season, plundering 27 goals across all competitions as the Spanish giants clinched a domestic double.
She became the first female player to receive the award for highest goalscorer in the Spanish top flight after notching 20 league goals.
That astonishing campaign for high-flying Barcelona saw Oshoala reign supreme again on the continental stage 11 months on from her last triumph.
The veteran striker now moves clear of fellow Nigerian Perpetua Nkwocha with six total wins – more than any other African in history.
Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie clinched the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The Paris FC captain beat fellow nominees Khadija Er-Rmichi of Morocco and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini to the groundbreaking prize.
Nnadozie underlined her credentials during this year’s Women’s World Cup, producing a player-of-the-match performance to thwart Canada in Nigeria’s opener.
The 25-year-old has also been integral in Paris FC’s success this season, keeping six clean sheets as they sealed a maiden Women’s Champions League qualification.
Furthermore, the Super Falcons won the National Team of the Year (Women) award.
The Super Falcons were amongst the three African nations that historically reached the FIFA Women’s World Cup Round of 16 at last year’s global showpiece alongside Morocco and South Africa.
