CAF Awards 2023: Victor Osimhen makes top 10 nomination

By: Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria star Victor Osimhen is the only Nigerian that made cut which includes the biggest names in African football for this year’s CAF Player of the Year.

A few weeks after revealing its 30-man nomination list, CAF have trimmed down the 2023 Player of the Year nominees list to 10 players.

The Nigerian international is considered favorite to win the award for the 2023 edition after placing eighth in the Ballon d’Or as the only African in the top 10.

The 24-year-old scored 31 goals in 39 games across all competitions to help Napoli win their first Scudetto in 33 years and also reached its first ever Champions League quarterfinals.

The Napoli striker aims to emulate Nwankwo Kanu, the last Nigerian, to secure the award in 1999.

However, he faces competition from four Moroccans, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Yaccine Bounou and Yousef En-Nesyri who helped the Arab-African nation to a historic World Cup semifinals.

Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, Algerian Riyad Mahrez, Senegalese Sadio Mane, and two Cameroonians, Zambo Anguissa and Vincent Aboubakar are the rest of the top 10.

According to the CAF release, “The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.”

The award ceremony is scheduled for 11 December at the Palais des Congres, Marrakech, Morocco.