Victor Osimhen: Nigeria and Napoli star reveals Africa Player of the Year award dream

By Saheed Afolabi

Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen has set his sights on winning the 2023 CAF Africa Player of the Year award.

The Nigeria forward is having a tremendous season in the Italian Serie A as he has found the back of the net 21 times this season and only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have more goals than him in the ongoing campaign.

The 24-year-old forward won the Youth Player of the Year Award following his record-breaking goal king at the U17 World Cup in Chile with 10 goals but missed out on the chance to win his second in 2019.

The Super Eagles forward admits it would be a dream come true for him to win the African best player award, having been inspired by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 2015 winning feat.

“I am not going to lie, it would be my dream to be African Footballer of the Year,” Osimhen was quoted by BSN Sports.

“I was at the ceremony in 2015 when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won the award. As an African, you dream of this prize and maybe I can win.

“I think I still have a long way to go in achieving that dream. I am really working towards that direction and I think I’m on the right path. But as a man, it won’t be easy but I think having my own family (here) has a dream come true.

“I have a long way to go, so football is the only thing on my mind and I want to keep focusing, and of course, a lot is expected of me so I’m here to deliver.”

Osimhen will compete with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez for the African best player and the last Nigeria player to win the award was Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.