Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has been nominated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the 2023 awards.
Osimhen who on Monday was named the 8th best player in the world by FIFA is among the 30 nominees for the best male player in Africa.
Osimhen is the favourite to win this year’s edition of the prestigious award.
The Nigeria international scored 26 in 32 appearances to help Napoli win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years last season.
The 24-year-old also scored five goals in six UEFA Champions League outings for the Partenopei.
He is hoping to become the first Nigerian to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu claimed the prize in 1996.
Of the 100 names nominated for the various categories, only Osimhen and rising Gift Orban are the Nigerians who made the cut.
Thirty (30) players made the cut for the top prize; CAF African Player of the Year, whilst 20 players have been nominated for the CAF Interclub Player of the Year. Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year and Club of the Year have ten (10) nominees each just as CAF Young Player of the Year – for players under the age of 21.
For the first time, CAF introduced the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year Category (Men and Women) in the prestigious event that seeks to reward and celebrate exceptional Players, Officials and Administrators during the period under review.
It will be the first time that shot stoppers will be acknowledged for their performances, further expanding the network of winners for the annual event. 10 players have been nominated for the novel award.
In the same vein, Gent forward, Gift Orban is also nominated for the Young Player of the Year award. Incidentally, Osimhen was the last Nigerian to win the award in 2015.
Orban has scored 27 goals in all competitions for Belgian Pro League club, KAA Gent since his arrival from Norwegian outfit, Staebek in January.
Meanwhile, the nominees for the Women’s categories will be announced in due course.
Senegal forward Sadio Mane was crowned CAF African Player of the Year whilst Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala was coronated CAF African Women’s Player of the Year for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
According to CAF, the Awards Gala is scheduled for 11 December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco.
