The Chairman of the FCT Football Association (FCT FA), Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed, has called on Nigerians to exercise cautious optimism as they fancy the chances of their favourite Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, to win this year’s African Footballer of the Year award.
The Napoli marksman was rated 8th in the world ahead of other African football stars like Mo Salah, Yassine Bounou and Andre Onana who made the top 30 at the 67th Ballon d‘Or award which was held on Monday at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
Considering Osimhen’s high rating, his fans are already warming up to celebrate Nigeria’s first African Footballer of the Year award in 24 years.
The last time Nigeria won the award was in 1999 when the legendary Kanu Nwankwo was voted the best African player for the second time.
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However, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust, Mohammed said even as he is rooting for Osimhen to win the prestigious award, he is not oblivious of the threat from other African players who have equally done well for club and country.
“I think Osimhen has done enough to win it. He deserves it as he came 8th on the Ballon d ‘Or list. What he has done with Napoli since Maradona days should count for something. But with the African awards there have been big surprises in the past so we will see.
“His challenge will come from Hakimi who won the Ligue 1 title with PSG and reached the World Cup semi final. That is massive. Then Riyad Mahrez won the treble with Man City.
“But all in all, what Osimhen has achieved is incredible and he deserves to win it,” said Mohammed.
