Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen, who plays for Napoli and the Super Eagles, has been nominated for the prestigious 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award. The final three shortlist, announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), includes Osimhen, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
Osimhen is vying to become the first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 to clinch the coveted award. The 24-year-old recently received recognition as the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Player of the Year for the 2022/23 Serie A season in Milan.
Mohamed Salah, a renowned figure in African football, has previously won the award twice in 2017 and 2018. Meanwhile, Hakimi aims to be the first Moroccan player to secure the accolade since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
In addition to Osimhen’s nomination, several other Nigerians made it to the final shortlists in various categories. Asisat Oshoala, the accomplished women’s footballer, is in contention to defend her Women’s Player of the Year title, competing against Barbara Banda of Zambia and Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa.
Chiamaka Nnadozie is a nominee for Goalkeeper of the Year, while Deborah Abiodun has earned recognition in the Women’s Young Player of the Year category.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 11, in Marrakech, Morocco. The event will unveil the winners across multiple categories, celebrating outstanding achievements in African football.
