Victor Osimhen was named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year in a landmark event that cemented his status as one of the best players in the world.
Osimhen saw off competition from Moroccoโs Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.
Mondayโs award capped off a sterling year for the Super Eagles forward whose historic feat in the imperial Moroccan city of Marakesh ended Nigeriaโs 24-year-old wait for Africaโs top individual prize. Legendary Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian to win the award and that was in 1999.
The prize is a recognition of Osimhenโs exploits for his Napoli club side and the national team where he is a key member. He spearheaded the Italian teamโs unprecedented Serie A title run, scoring 26 goals in the league to become the first African to win the Pichichi (top scorer) award. His contribution broke George Weahโs record as the highest-scoring player from the continent in the Italian top flight.
Napoli last won the Scudetto 33 years ago during the legendary Diego Maradonaโs era. For the 2022/23 campaign, the former Lille strikerโs impeccable form saw him included in the Serie A Team of the Year as he also clinched the Best Striker prize.
Osimhenโs ranking in the 2023 Ballon dโOr was a testament to his contributions to the Serie A teamโs epochal showing. He was ninth, becoming the highest-ranked African for the year and the most-ranked Nigerian in the history of the award.
Earlier in the month, the Nigerian was crowned as Italian footballersโ association player of the Year, the first African to win the AIC award.
Though Nigeria agonizingly missed out on the 2022 World Cup, losing the ticket to perennial rivals Ghana, Osimhenโs contributions to the Super Eagles were staggering in the year under review. He was the top scorer in the qualification race for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with 10 goals.
Although injuries have hampered his outing for Napoli this season โ with just six goals in 10 games for Walter Mazzariโs men โ Mondayโs award is the crowning point of a hugely successful year for the Nigerian marksman.
