Monday’s award capped off a sterling year for the Super Eagles forward whose historic feat in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh ended Nigeria’s 24-year-old wait for Africa’s top individual prize.
Osimhen saw off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah. At the event, a smiling Osimhen hailed the impact of Nigerian legend Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, as well as fans from the country among others.
“First of all, I want to say thank you to God for everything. Special thanks go to Mr. Emmanuel Amunike; without him, I don’t think I would be standing in front of you guys holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football,” he told the gathering of the creme-de-la-creme of African football and beyond.
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala also has added another feather to her cap, winning the illustrious African Women’s Player of the Year for a record-extending fifth time.
The Barcelona star was crowned the winner of the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year to earn the feat at the award ceremony in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, continuing her dominance in the continent’s women’s game.
Oshoala received the prize in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022 and beat South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Barbara Banda of Zambia to bag the latest accolade that cemented her status in the continent’s women’s game.
Super Falcons Goalkeeper Nnadozie also clinched the as instrumental as Nigeria reached the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup.
The female football team also clinched the women’s category as the national team of the year award.
