Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria won the most awards at the Confederations of African Football (CAF) Awards on Monday with Napoli’s striker, Victor Osimhen, named as the African men’s footballer of the year while his compatriot, Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala, claimed the top prize in the women’s category.
The Napoli striker is the first Nigerian player to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, ending a 24-year wait after players like Jay Jay Okocha, John Mikel Obi, and Vincent Enyeama were ignored for the prize in recent years.
Osimhen scored 26 goals, topping the Serie A scoring charts as he helped Napoli end a 33-year wait for the Italian title last season. He also emerged as the highest goalscorer at the just concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and finished eighth at the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony.
He beat Liverpool forward, Mohammed Salah, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Moroccan wing-back, Achraf Hakimi, to win the award.
“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,” the 24-year-old striker said at the ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco.
In Oshoala’s case, she was named the African women’s footballer of the year for a record sixth time. She beat South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbra Banda to claim the award, which she also won in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022.
She overcame injury to help Nigeria reach the last 16 at the 2023 World Cup, where they were beaten by England on penalties. She scored in the 3-2 group stage win over Australia, finding the net for a third consecutive World Cup.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also won the Golden Glove, emerging as the best goalkeeper on the continent after a stellar year for the Paris FC goalkeeper, whose heroics saw them defeat Arsenal Women FC to qualify for the 2023/24 UEFA Women’s Champions League on penalties and an outstanding performance at the 2023 World Cup.
Nigeria also took home the trophy for women’s team of the year to make it four awards in total.
Morocco won men’s team of the year after their thrilling run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last year, while their manager, Mr Walid Regragui won the men’s coach of the year award.
South Africa’s Desiree Ellis won the women’s coach award for the fourth time in succession.
