He becomes the first Nigerian man since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999 to be crowned Africa’s best.
Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has won the CAF Player of the Year award after an outstanding season in which he led the Italian side to its first league title in 33 years.
Osimhen also ended the AFCON 2023 qualifying series as top scorer.
The Super Eagles superstar claimed the CAF gong at Monday’s awards ceremony in Marrakech after his 26 goals inspired Napoli’s league title triumph last term, the first since the days of Diego Maradona.
The 24-year-old beat homeboy and Morocco full-back Achraf Hakimi, and Egypt striker Mohammed Salah to land African football’s biggest individual prize.
He becomes the first Nigerian man to win the award since 1999 when Kanu Nwankwo won the second of his two awards.
The honour capped a superlative year for the striker who also fired Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with 10 goals to finish as the top scorer of the qualifiers.
Super Falcons striker and goalkeeper, Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie, also won the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively.
The Super Falcons were also named the women’s best national team in Africa.
