Osimhen, Oshoala win 2023 African best players awards

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Dec. 11, 2023

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen and Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, have both been crowned the 2023 CAF African Player of the Year, in a keenly contested award process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Osimhen bagged the men’s award, Oshoala won the women’s title at an event held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday.

Osimhen, who plies his trade with Napoli FC of Italy won the coveted prize after Nwankwo Kanu who won it in 1999.

Osimhen beat Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and PSG and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to win the crown.

The Super Eagles striker had an excellent football season in 2022 as he helped Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time after over 30 years.

He had also emerged as the Serie A Player of the season having scored 26 league goals and 31 in all competitions.

For 29-year-old Oshoala, this is her sixth time of winning the award, having won it in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Super Falcon’s Goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie also won the women’s goalkeeper of the year prize, while the team was named the best women’s national team in Africa.

Also, Super Falcons players Michelle Alozie and Tosin Demehin made the CAF women’s best XI.