Osimhen, Oshoala, Nnadozie fly Nigerian flag in 2023 CAF Awards

The quartet of Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Super Falcons were the biggest winners from Nigeria at the 2023 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco.

Napoli star Victor Osimhen became the first Nigerian to make the top three for the Player of the Year award since Vincent Enyeama in 2014, and was to rival Morocco and PSG star Achraf Hakimi and Egypt and Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah.

Osimhen succeeded in becoming the first Nigerian winner of the African Player of the Year award since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999. The Napoli man beat both Salah and Hakimi to the award, capping off a fine year for himself in which he won the Capocannoniere in Italy and Serie A’s player of the season.

Asisat Oshoala further strengthened her legacy as the greatest African female footballer ever by claiming her sixth African Player of the Year award, two more than any player, male or female, in the history of the award.

The Barcelona star beat Zambia captain Barbara Banda and Thembi Kgatlana from South Africa to emerge as the winner of the award for a sixth different year.

Super Falcons and Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was the recipient of the first-ever Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after her impressive showings for her club in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and her country.

The Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, also won the Female National team of the year. This came as a reward for their performance over the last year, especially in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they were eliminated on penalties by England in the Round of 16.

Nigerian youngster Deborah Abiodun almost made the podium as well, as she lost the Women’s Young Player of the Year to Morocco’s Nesryne El Chad.

There was space in the African XI of the year for Super Falcons Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie for their exploits in the last year, as well.