According to Kelechi Nwakali, Victor Osimhen, a fellow countryman, is deserving of the title of CAF Men’s Player of the Year for the year 2023.
Three participants, including Osimhen, made it to the final round of voting for the coveted prize.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain are the other two. Hakimi is a Moroccan defender.
With 26 goals in 32 league games last season, Osimhen guided Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years.
Even though Napoli didn’t make it past the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, the 24-year-old scored five additional goals.
Also, with ten goals in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, the forward was unrivaled in scoring.
According to Nwakali, Osimhen outperformed Hakimi and Salah in the season.
Following his victory as Italy’s top scorer last season, Osimhen “emerged as one of the best players,” Nwakali remarked on Brila FM.
I believe he had a more impressive season when compared to the other nominees.
“In my opinion, he has a good chance of being named the best African player.”
Among Osimhen’s recent individual achievements are the titles of Best Foreign Athlete in Italy and Serie A Player of the Year from the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC).
His goal is to break Nwankwo Kanu’s 1999 record as the only Nigerian to win the CAF Men’s Player of the Year title.
