CAF Awards
Nigerians' Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala named African Player of the Year
Victor Osimhen, the Napoli striker, won the title of Player of the Year 11 on Monday, December 2023, succeeding Senegal's Sadio Mané. The Nigerian, the top scorer in the Italian league, finished ahead of Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Egypt's Mohamed Salah. On the women's side, the Nigerian was named Player of the Year, and Morocco's Walid Regragui was named Coach of the Year.
Nigeria's Victor Osimhen crowned African Player of the Year 2023. AP - Massimo Paolone/
By: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
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There was a bit of suspense, because Achraf Hakimi had a strong case to make after his brilliant 2022 World Cup with Morocco, the first African team to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. And there was also the indefatigable Mohamed Salah, the Pharaoh of Liverpool who had already won in 2017 and 2018, and was insolent in his consistency. But, Victor Osimhen has certainly made more of an impression in 2023. The Nigerian striker managed the fine performance of finishing as top scorer in Serie A, a first for an African. Above all, his goals helped Napoli win the league for the first time since the Maradona era and the two Scudetti (1987 and 1990).
For his great season, Victor Osimhen has already been named Serie A player of the year by his peers, less than a week ago, confirming his eighth place in the ranking of the last Ballon d'Or France Football.
Eight years after winning the Best Young Player award (2015), the former Lille player has been awarded the title of African Player of the Year.
The former Ultimate Strikers Academy graduate in Lagos, his hometown, is the fifth Nigerian to win the African Player of the Year award after Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amunike (1994), Nwanko Kanu (1996, 1999) and Victor Ikpeba (1997).
Walid Regragui succeeds Aliou Cissé
On the women's side, the best player is still Asisat Oshoala. The Nigerian won the trophy for the sixth time, and the third time in a row. The FC Barcelona striker currently has no rivals in Africa and won ahead of South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia's Barbara Banda.
South African coach Desiree Ellis has been named Women's Football Team Coach of the Year. The coach led South Africa to their first AFCON victory in 2022.
In the men's race, there was really no suspense with the victory of Morocco's Walid Regragui. The Atlas Lions coach was the main architect of the Atlas Lions' superb performance at the 2022 World Cup.
The winners of the CAF Awards 2023
Player of the Year
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
Women's Player of the Year
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
Men's Coach of the Year
Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Women's Coach of the Year
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Goalkeeper of the Year
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
Young Player of the Year
Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)
Young Women's Player of the Year
Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
Men's National Team of the Year
Morocco
Women's National Team of the Year
Nigeria
Interclub Player of the Year
Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)
Interclub Player of the Year
Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
Men's Club of the Year
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Club of the Year (Women)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
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