Osimhen remains worthy candidate for African Player of the Year award – Amuneke

By Wale Mustapha

Former Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed optimism that Victor Osimhen meets the needed criterion to emerge 2023 CAF African Player of the Year winner.

The Napoli striker will be facing stiffer competition with previous winners of the award in Mohammed Sallah, Sadio Mane, Riyadh Mahrez and over 20 other contenders for this year’s top award for outstanding players in men’s category.

Osimhen scored a staggering 31 goals in all competition for Napoli last season helping the Partenopei to end their over three decades of trophy drought.

The 24-year-old also finished the 2023 African Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifiers as top scorer even with Nigeria’s failure to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Amuneke, who was Africa’s best player in 1994, believes Osimhen has done enough to be the African Player of Year despite missing the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

“We hope he wins the CAF award with what he has done for his club and the national team,” the former winner told BBC Sport Africa.

“Regardless of not playing at the World Cup, he has been able to establish himself as a worthy contender.”

CAF will announce the winner on December 11th at a ceremony to be held in Marrakech, Morocco.

Osimhen is be hoping to become the first Nigerian to win the prize in 24 years and the fifth Nigerian to ever achieve the feat.