Osimhen, Oshoala nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or award

Asisat Oshoala of Barcelona and Nigeria poses with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Photo: AFP

Nigeria stars Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.

The names of the nominees in both the men and women category were announced on the Ballon d’Or X handle on Wednesday with Osimhen and Oshoala making the cut.

Osimhen will battle it out with 29 other nominees for the prestigious individual award.

Other players who are shortlisted include Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne.

Also on the 30-man shortlist are Antoine Griezmann, Martin Odegaard, Luka Modric, Ilkay Gundogan, Vinicius Junior and Robert Lewandowski.

In the women’s category, Oshoala will also hope to beat off competition from 29 players to land the award.

Osimhen became the first-ever African to finish top scorer in Serie A last season, netting 26 goals in 32 games, as Napoli won a first league title since 1990.

The Super Eagles striker was also named best foreign athlete in Italy last campaign.

For Oshoala, she contributed in Barcelona winning the Spanish’s women’s league, scoring 21 goals in 28 games.

Also, she played her part as Barcelona won the UEFA women’s Champions League last season.

Also, she helped Nigeria’s Super Falcons reach the round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The winners of the 2023 Ballon d’Or award for both men and women will be known at a ceremony in Paris, France on Monday, October 30.

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