CAF Awards 2023
Africa’s Best! Osimhen Crowned 2023 CAF Footballer Of The Year ending Nigeria’s 23 year jinx
Victor Osimhen has been crowned the 2023 African Footballer of the Year in a momentous event that solidified his status as one of the best players in the world.
Osimhen saw off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.
Monday’s award capped off a sterling year for the Super Eagles forward whose historic feat in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh ended Nigeria’s 24-year-old wait for Africa’s top individual prize. Legendary Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian to win the award and that was in 1999.
The prize is a recognition of Osimhen’s exploits for his Napoli club side and the national team where he is a key member. He spearheaded the Italian team’s unprecedented Serie A title run, scoring 26 goals in the league to become the first African to win the Pichichi (top scorer) award. His contribution broke George Weah’s record as the highest-scoring player from the continent in the Italian top flight.
Napoli last won the Scudetto 33 years ago during the legendary Diego Maradona’s era. For the 2022/23 campaign, the former Lille striker’s impeccable form saw him included in the Serie A Team of the Year as he also clinched the Best Striker prize.
Osimhen’s ranking in the 2023 Ballon d’Or was a testament to his contributions to the Serie A team’s epochal showing. He was ninth, becoming the highest-ranked African for the year and the most-ranked Nigerian in the history of the award.
Earlier in the month, the Nigerian was crowned as Italian footballers’ association player of the Year, the first African to win the AIC award.
Below is the full list of the men’s best XI of the year:
GOALKEEPER
Andre Onana
DEFENDERS
Achraf Hakimi
Chancel Mbemba
Kalidou Koulibaly
MIDFIELDERS
Thomas Partey
Andre-Frank Anguissa
Mohammed Kudus
Sofyan Amrabat
ATTACKERS
Sadio Mane
Mohamed Salah
Victor Osimhen
Likewise, Nigeria’s female striker, Asisat Oshoala, has won the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year at the ongoing Confederation of African Football awards.
The award makes Oshoala’s sixth award in the category.
Falcons’ Nnadozie wins 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper Of The Year
Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has been crowned the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2023 on Monday night.
The Paris FC of France shot-stopper beat fellow goalkeepers in the form of Moroccan shot-stopper Khadija El-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Olaminii
The award is a reward for her heroics in the Women’s World Cup in Canada and Australia finishing the tournament with three clean sheets.
