“He’ll win easily” – Ex-Real Sociedad man tips Victor Osimhen to end Nigeria’s 24-year wait for Africa’s POTY award

No Nigerian has scooped the celebrated award since Nwankwo Kanu was named the continent’s finest in 1999

Former Actual Sociedad midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has backed Napoli’s Victor Osimhen to beat all different challengers to this yr’s Africa Participant of the Yr award.

Common suspects – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, and Manchester Metropolis’s Riyad Mahrez – begin as frontrunners for the honours.

The trio has shared the highest spots amongst themselves since 2016, and it’ll take one thing, somebody particular, to interrupt their monopoly, particularly since they’re nonetheless lively on the high degree.

But when anybody can usurp the established order and energy to a podium end, it’s the seemingly unstoppable Victor Osimhen.

The Napoli ahead has been by a rustic mile the very best striker within the Italian Serie A with 17 objectives from 18 video games, at the least three greater than his closest challenger.

The previous Lille lad was named the very best participant within the league for January after scooping the very best aim award in the identical month.

Profitable the CAF Africa Footballer of the Yr award, nevertheless, goes past simply scoring objectives. And Osimhen might need to carry the league title with Napoli earlier than he may be thought of one of many favourites for the celebrated honour.

However former Nigerian worldwide Mutiu Adepoju believes Osimhen is already deserving of the award forward of others.

What has been mentioned? 

“No one is on the degree he’s now and I imagine he nonetheless has time to do extra,” Adepoju advised Brila FM.

“If now was the second to select the Africa finest participant, he would win it simply.”

Nigerian gamers – Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, and Nwankwo Kanu – gained 5 of the primary eight Participant of the Yr awards CAF began issuing in 1992. However no Nigerian has claimed the honour since Kanu final gained it in 1999.