By Akinwale Kasali
Super Eagles and Napoli Football Club of Italy forward, Victor Osimhen has made the final Three Shortlisted for the CAF African Footballer of the Year Award for 2023.
Osimhen, during the week, won the award for the Best Footballer in Italy for 2023, to become the latest African to have won the award after African legends, George Weah of Liberia, Samuel Eto’o Fils of Cameroon to mention a few.
Also, Super Falcons and Barcelona Feminina Forward, Asisat Oshoala, was also shortlisted in the final Three by CAF for the Female Footballer of the Year.
For Osimhen, this is the first time he would be making the final Three Shortlist, while Oshoala has won the Award Six Times and would be gunning for her Seventh.
The 24-Year Osimhen was instrumental to Napoli’s success last season, as the club won Serie A for the first time in 33 years. Osimhen also won the Golden Boot, scoring 26 goals and becoming the highest-scoring African in the league. He was also named the best striker in the league.
The 28-Year Old Oshoala on her path also was pivotal for Barcelona Feminina Team that won the Spain Female La Liga Iberuodola Title and the UEFA Champions League for the second time at a stretch.
The reigning CAF African Female Footballer of the Year Oshoala scored 21 goals in just 28 games to lead FC Barcelona to the 2022/23 Spanish League title and was the Spanish club’s top scorer with 27 goals in all competitions.
She has scored 31 goals in the AWCON Competition and won the Women’s African Cup of Nations three times with the Super Falcons.
The award ceremony will take place on 11th December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco.
However, all indications show that the Nigerians could cart away with the coveted CAF Awards.
