By Samuel Onyekwere
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 CAF Player of the Year following his heroics for his country and club.
The Super Eagles superstar claimed the CAF gong at Monday’s awards ceremony in Marrakech after his goal haul inspired Napoli’s league title triumph last term.
Osimhen saw off challenges from Morocco full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egypt striker Mohammed Salah to land African football’s biggest individual prize.
Napoli hot-shot won the coveted prize after firing his club to a first Serie A title in over three decades.
The honour capped a remarkable year for the powerful front man who also fired Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with 10 goals to finish as the top scorer of the qualifiers.
The Italy-based striker scored 27 goals across all fronts as the Napoli entertainers lit up Italian football.
In doing so, the 24-year-old became the first Napoli player to finish top scorer in Italian football since Diego Maradona in 1987/88.
Osimhen is now the first Nigerian winner of the men’s award since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999 after another prolific campaign.
His goals propelled Napoli to their first Serie A crown since the days of Maradona – a triumph few predicted last summer.
And with a historic title under his belt, Osimhen’s victory was just reward after a season that demonstrated his development into one of Europe’s most fearsome No.9s.
Courtesy – CAF on-line
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