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Victor Osimhen attained the prestigious title of the 2023 African Footballer of the Year in a momentous event that solidified his position among the world's elite players.
In a fierce competition against Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, Osimhen emerged triumphant. The Monday accolade marked the apex of an outstanding year for the Super Eagles forward. His historic accomplishment in the majestic Moroccan city of Marrakesh concluded Nigeria's 24-year pursuit of Africa's premier individual football honor. The last Nigerian to lay claim to this coveted award was the legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
The accolade recognizes Osimhen's outstanding performances for his Napoli club and the national team, where he holds a pivotal role. Leading Napoli to an unprecedented Serie A title, he netted 26 goals in the league, securing the Pichichi (top scorer) award and making history as the first African to achieve this feat. His noteworthy contributions surpassed George Weah's record as the highest-scoring player from the continent in the Italian top flight.
Napoli's previous Serie A triumph occurred 33 years ago during the legendary Diego Maradona era. In the 2022/23 season, the former Lille striker's exceptional form not only earned him a place in the Serie A Team of the Year but also secured the Best Striker prize.
Osimhen's ninth-place finish in the 2023 Ballon d'Or underscored his substantial contributions to the historic performance of the Serie A team. This accomplishment positioned him as the top-ranked African for the year and the highest-ranked Nigerian in the annals of the prestigious award.
In the same month, the Nigerian footballer was honored with the Italian Footballers' Association Player of the Year award, becoming the inaugural African recipient of 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, earned the 2023 CAF Women's Player of the Year at the ongoing Confederation of African Football awards. This achievement represents Oshoala's sixth accolade in this category.
In another triumph for the Falcons, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the goalkeeper for the Super Falcons, claimed the title of CAF Women's Goalkeeper of the Year for 2023 on Monday night. The Paris FC player from France surpassed her counterparts, Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija El-Rmichi, and South Africa's Andile Olaminii.
This award recognizes Nnadozie's outstanding performances in the Women's World Cup in Canada and Australia, where she concluded the tournament with three clean sheets.
