NFF congratulates Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala on Ballon d’Or nominations

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated the pair of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala for their nomination in the 2023 Ballon d’Or award.

The two Nigerian players were nominated and became the first pair of men and women from Africa to be nominated for the award in a single year.

Osimhen played a pivotal role in helping Italian Serie A side, Napoli clinch the Scudetto (Italian league title) last season and ended the campaign as the league’s top goal scorer with 26 goals after 32 games.

He is currently the top goal scorer at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers with seven goals ahead of the final group games on Sunday with Nigeria facing Sao Tome and Principe.

“We are indeed very proud of the nominations of our players Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala for the Ballon d’Or,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said in a statement.

“It is the first time that players from the same country are nominated for both male and female categories, and this makes us proud. It also underscores the stellar careers that both players have at the moment, and we pray that God will continue to take them from glory to glory.

“These nominations will also, no doubt, encourage other Nigerian players everywhere to be pivotal for their Clubs and also for the National Team anytime they are on the international road.”

African women’s Footballer of the year, Oshoala has been instrumental in helping European and Spanish champions, FC Barcelona cement their dominance in the league.

After winning the top goal scorer award at the end of the 2021/2022 season with 19 goals, she got nominated for the Ballon d’Or award last year becoming the first African woman to achieve such a feat.

Her nomination this year made it back-to-back nomination after winning the league and UEFA Women’s Champions League title with the Catalan side.