A Super Eagles’ star, Victor Osimhen, made the final 10-man shortlist for the 2023 CAF Player of the Year men’s categories.
The 24-year-old is considered a top contender for the award following his eighth-place finish at the 2023 Ballon d’Or award in October in Paris, France.
He is up against former winners Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Riyad Mahrez.
Four Moroccans, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, Yassine Bounou, and Youssef En-Nesyri, are also on the shortlist.
The quartet played crucial roles in Morocco’s historic achievement as the first African nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final.
Osimhen aims to emulate Nwankwo Kanu, the last Nigerian to win the award in 1999.
The Napoli striker played an essential role in leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years and became the first African player to secure Serie A’s Golden Boot with 26 goals.
There are 10 contenders for Interclub Player of the Year, while the Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year have five.
The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches, and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the interclub competitions.
According to the CAF release, “the ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches, and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the interclub competitions.”
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 11 at the Palais des Congres, Marrakech, Morocco.
