Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala win footballer of the yr awards whereas Morocco are named workforce of the yr.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been named African Footballer of the 12 months after beating Mohamed Salah to the award at a ceremony in Marrakesh.
Osimhen’s compatriot Asisat Oshoala bagged the ladies’s prize for a record-extending sixth time on the gala on Monday night time. The star striker, who performs for Barcelona, battled damage to assist her facet to the round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the place they took England to penalties.
The 24-year-old Osimhen scored 26 targets as he helped Napoli to a surprise triumph in Serie A final season and was the main marksmen in Italy’s high division.
Egypt’s Liverpool ahead Salah and Morocco’s Paris St Germain proper again Achraf Hakimi have been the opposite two closing nominees, however Osimhen claimed the prize to change into the primary Nigerian winner since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
“It is a dream come true. I have to thank everybody who has helped me on this journey and all Africans who have helped to put me on the map despite my faults,” Osimhen mentioned.
Morocco gained Nationwide Group of the 12 months within the males’s class after their thrilling run to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar whereas their supervisor, Walid Regragui, gained Coach of the 12 months.
Nigeria took residence the trophy for Nationwide Group of the 12 months for girls, however South Africa’s Desiree Ellis gained ladies’s Coach of the 12 months for the fourth time in succession.
France-based Chiamaka Nnadozie was named the highest ladies’s goalkeeper on the continent.
Osimhen, Oshoala and Michelle Alozie additionally made the groups of the yr.
𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞. 🌟#CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/Eelau2THEY
— CAF (@CAF_Online) December 11, 2023
Nigeria’s received expertise
The Nigerian Presidency congratulated all of the nation’s winners, describing their awards in a publish on X as inspirational.
“This recognition at the highest level is a massive shot in the arm for Nigeria football,” Abuja Soccer Affiliation Chairman Adam Muktar Mohammed informed the Agence France-Presse information company.
“Evidently, there is an abundance of talent in Nigeria. We only have to harness this talent to be a major force in international football.”
Nevertheless, Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes are already in jeopardy after they drew their first two qualifiers in opposition to Lesotho and Zimbabwe final month.
The boys’s workforce additionally failed to achieve final yr’s World Cup in Qatar after dropping to Ghana on away targets in a playoff.
A number of Tremendous Eagles stars led by captain Ahmed Musa and defender William Ekong in addition to coach Jose Peseiro joined within the tributes for Osimhen after he was named CAF Participant of the 12 months.
“Congrats once again @victorosimhen9 @asisatoshoala proud of you,” Musa wrote on X, previously Twitter.
“Well deserved @victorosimhen9, we are all proud of you,” Ekong added.
#6!!!!!! 🇳🇬✨ https://t.co/8ZkJmYRYcW
— William Troost-Ekong (@WTroostEkong) December 11, 2023
