Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, following his exceptional performances for both his country and club.
The Nigeria striker, who plays for Napoli in Italy’s Serie A, saw off competition from Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian striker Mohammed Salah to claim the prestigious award.
This achievement caps a remarkable year for the 24-year-old forward, who also led Nigeria to secure qualification to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with 10 goals in the qualifiers, finishing as the top scorer.
The powerful frontman has been in blistering form for Napoli, scoring 27 goals across all competitions and becoming the first player from the club to finish as the top scorer in Italian football since Diego Maradona in 1987/88. Osimhen’s goals played a pivotal role in Napoli’s first Serie A title triumph in over three decades, a feat that few predicted at the start of the season.
With this victory, Osimhen becomes the first Nigerian winner of the men’s award since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.