…as Nigeria sweeps quadruple awards in Morocco
KEMI OMONIYI
MARRAKECH, Morocco – Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has been crowned the 2023 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco
The Napoli player beat Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to the prestigious award – the first time a Nigerian has picked up the title since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Osimhen was crowned, becoming the first Nigeria player in 24 years to take the gong. The last person was Nwankwo Kanu, back in 1999.
Kanu also won in 1996, after Rashidi Yekini in 1993 and Emmanuel Amuneke in 1994. Victor Ikpeba took the crown in 1997.
Osimhen became the first player in the history of the African Football Awards to have been crowned Player of the Year (Men) after having pocketed the Young Player of the Year (Men) in an earlier year.
Only last Monday, the 24-year-old was crowned the 2022/2023 Player of the Year in Italy’s Serie A, after having won the Young Player of the Year in the same league in the 2021/2022 season.
Nigeria enjoyed double success with Asisat Oshoala retaining the women’s award – the sixth time the Barcelona star has won the accolade.
The winners are voted for by a panel consisting of CAF’s technical committee plus African media professionals, head coaches and captains. Clubs involved in the group stages of CAF’s continental competitions also had a say.
Napoli’s Osimhen, 24, was tipped to pick up the prestigious CAF award for the first time in his career after a stellar 2022-23 season.
He scored 26 times in 32 appearances, including the decisive goal that sealed the Scudetto in May and won Napoli their first Serie A title in 33 years.
The former Wolfsburg and Lille striker was also named the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year earlier this month after an outstanding season.
Lagos-born Osimhen scored five goals in four Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification matches as his country reached next year’s finals.
He also became the first Nigerian to finish in the top 10 of the Ballon d’Or vote with an eighth-placed finish and was made a Member of the Federal Republic in Nigeria.
Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala, 29, made it a night to remember for Nigeria, winning the Women’s Player of the Year title for a record-extending sixth time.
Oshoala – who went to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year – retains the trophy she won last year.
She beat off competition from South Africa and Racing Louisville’s Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia and Shanghai Sengli’s Barbra Banda.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons also won the Women’s National Team of the Year with their Paris FC star Chiamaka Nnadozie picking up the women’s goalkeeper award.
The Paris FC of France safe hands in her speech said “To all the young girls growing up in Africa, dreaming of becoming a footballer one day, believe me dreams do come true. My dad didn’t want me to play football but I’m sure he’s gonna see this and be happy. So, keep dreaming, keep working and I believe that one day you’ll get to this stage.”
2023 CAF Awards Winners
Player of the Year (men): Victor Osimhen (Napoli & Nigeria)
Player of the Year (women): Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona & Nigeria)
Coach of the Year (men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Coach of the Year (women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
National Team of the Year (men): Morocco
National Team of the Year (women): Nigeria
Goalkeeper of the Year (men): Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal & Morocco)
Goalkeeper of the Year (women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC & Nigeria)
Young Player of the Year (women): Nesryne El Chad (Lille & Morocco)
Young Player of the Year (men): Lamine Camara (Metz & Senegal)
Club of the Year (women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Club of the Year (men): Al Ahly (Egypt)
Interclub Player of the Year (women): Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR & Morocco)
Interclub Player of the Year (men): Percy Tau (Al Ahly & South Africa)
