Osimhen, Oshoala named Africa’s best for 2023
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been named Africa’s best Men and Women’s Player respectively for the year 2023.
Osimhen saw off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Mohammed Salah to become the first Nigerian winner of the CAF Men’s player of the Year award since 1999, while Oshoala claimed a record extending crown in the women’s category.
Also, Super Falcons and Paris FC shotstopper, Chiamaka Nnadozie was named CAF Women’s goalkeeper of the Year 2023 while the Super Falcons won the Women’s National team of the Year award at the colourful award ceremony in Morocco on Monday, December 11, 2023.
NIGERIA’S 23-YEAR WAIT IS OVER
Following his success at the 2023 CAF awards, Victor Osimhen becomes the first Nigerian to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu triumphed in 1999 thus clipping a 23-year wait.
Late Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) are the other Nigeria men’s players to be crowned African Best player.
SIX-STAR OSHOALA
FC Barcelona and Super Falcons forward won her sixth CAF Women’s footballer of the year crown in Morocco.
South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Barbara Banda of Zambia were are challengers but settled for 2nd and 3ed place respectively.
NNADOZIE, SUPER FALCONS AND OTHERS
Paris FC goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie won the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award while the National Team of the Year for women went to Nigeria’s Super Falcons for the superlative performance at the World Cup.
Other winners on the night are: Club of the Year for men going to Al Ahly, Club of the Year for Women was won by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s Fatma Tagnaout was named Women’s Interclub Player of the Year and the Interclub Player of the Year for men went to South Africa and Al Ahly’s Percy Tau.
For the men’s Young Player, the award went to Senegal’s Lamine Camara, Nesryne El Chad won maiden Women’s Young Player award, Atlas Lions of Morocco got the Men’s National Team of the Year award, Men’s Best Goalkeeper award was won by Yassine Bounou of Morocco, Wahid Regragui was named Men’s Coach of the Year, South Africa’s Desiree Ellis claimed the Women’s Coach award and Goal of the Year went to Mahmoud Kharaba of Al Ahly.
Meanwhile, Osimhen was the only Super Eagles player that made the Men’s Best 11 while the trio of Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale and Oshoala were included in the Women’s Best 11.
