Osimhen ends Nigeria's 24-year wait for CAF Men's Player of the Year award

FOOTBALL Osimhen ends Nigeria's 24-year wait for CAF Men's Player of the Year award

Mark Kinyanjui 23:50 - 11.12.2023

Osimhen enjoyed a stellar campaign for Napoli, winning the Serie A top scorer award and helping end Napoli’s long wait for a Scudetto title.

Napoli and Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen has been crowned the 2023 African Player of the Year after fending off competition from Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain and Mohammed Salah of Liverpool.

Osimhen enjoyed a stellar campaign for Napoli, winning the Serie A top scorer award and helping end Napoli’s 33-year wait for a Scudetto title whilst establishing himself as one of the World’s best strikers.

Nigeria completed the sweep with Barcelona’s Asisat Oshaola winning her fifth CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, cementing her place as the greatest African footballer of all time by continuing to widen her record.

Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, has won the first-ever CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement award, while Ivory Coast president Alassene Quattara has taken away the other award for his efforts to help grow football for many years in the country.

Desiree Ellis of South Africa walked away with the Women's Coach of the Year, having led South Africa to the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Walid Rhegragoui winning in the men’s category after he masterminded Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria have fended off competition from Morocco and South Africa to win the Women’s National Team of the Year award, while Morocco have beaten Gambia and Senegal to win the award for the Men’s National Team of the Year.

Metz’s Lamine Camara of Senegal walked home with the Men’s Young Player of the Year award, with Nesryne El Chad of Morocco winning in the Women’s category.

In the interclub category, the award dedicated to players playing within the continent, Moroccan Fatima Tagnaout of ASFAR won the women’s version, while South African Percy Tau of Al Ahly has won in the men’s category after spearheading the Egyptian giants to a CAF Champions League win.

Unsurprisingly, the Egyptian club has won the Men’s Club of the Year award, with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies winning the Women’s Team of the Year after clinching the third CAF Women's Champions League trophy.

Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie of Paris FC has pipped Khadija Er-Rmichi and Andile Dlamini as the safest pair of hands in Africa in the Women’s category, with Yacine Bonou winning in the men’s category after helping Morocco reach a World Cup semi-final, as well as win the Europa League with Sevilla.

Dream teams:

Men’s dream team : Andre Onana, Achraf Hakimi, Chancel Mbemba, Kalidou Koulibaly, Thomas Partey, Ande Frank Zambo- Anguisa, Mohamed Kudus, Sofyane Amrabat, Sadio Mane, Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah

Women’s dream team: Andile Dlamini, Michielle Aldize, Bambani Mbane, Osinachi, Ohale, Lebohang Ramalepe, Fatima Tagnaout, Linda Matlaho, Refiloe Jane, Barbra Banda, Asisat Lamina Oshoala,Tabitha Chawinga

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