Osimhen shortlisted for 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award

Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A football match between Bologna FC and SSC Napoli at Renato Dall’Ara stadium in Bologna (Italy), September 24th, 2023. /Sipa USA No Use Germany.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has listed Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, in the shortlists for the 2023 Africa Men’s Player of the Year award.

Osimhen is in the running for the award alongside 29 other nominees who were unveiled on CAF’s X handle on Wednesday.

Other top stars also nominated are Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Sofyane Amrabat and Achraf Hakimi.

Also shortlisted are Yassine Bounou, Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Vincent Aboubakar and Edmond Tapsoba.

On Monday, Osimhen was placed in eight position in the 2023 Ballon d’Or award in Paris, France.

It is the highest position ever attained by a Nigerian player, eclipsing Nwankwo Kanu’s 11th-place finish in 1996.

The last time a Nigerian won the CAF Africa Men’s Player award was Kanu in 1999.

The quartet of late Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994) Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Kanu (1996, 1999) are the only Nigerians to have been crowned Africa Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Gift Orban was nominated for the 2023 Africa Young Player of the Year award category.

Orban will hope to beat nine other young exciting nominees for the award.

The 2023 CAF Africa Player of the Year award will take place in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, 11 December.

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