It has been a momentous year for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has continued to bag accolades for his performances in the past season.
It is undeniable that Osimhen was in sensational form last season despite the injuries he copped while playing for Serie A side Napoli.
The former Lille striker was crowned the African Footballer of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023 in a ceremony held on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco.
The CAF Awards 2023 was boycotted by former Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez and saw the Nigerian superstar pipping Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, PSG and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi to the award.
At the CAF Awards 2023, Osimhen became the fifth Nigerian to win the ultimate African football award after Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu.
Why Victor Osimhen deserved the award
There are arguments that Riyad Mahrez should have been in the final three in contention for the African Footballer of the Year.
The Algerian won a treble with Manchester City last season but had a negligible impact on the successes of the Sky Blues.
Osimhen made a strong case for winning the award with his hard-to-ignore contribution to the performance of Napoli last term.
The former Lille striker won the Capocannonire with 26 goals, making him the highest-scoring African player in one season in the Italian Serie A.
He is also four goals away from becoming the top African scorer of all time in the Serie A.
The African Player of the Year!!!
Victor Osimhen!!!!!! 🇳🇬❤️❤️#CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/Gfhp8Dqj8n
— marvelous👑 (@mofuafo) December 11, 2023
Osimhen was also the only African in the top ten at the Ballon d'Or.
Hakimi might have led Morocco to an unprecedented fourth-place finish at the World Cup, but that is countered by Osimhen leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years – a feat last achieved by the legendary Diego Maradona.
Below are some of the achievements by Osimhen in the past year.
- ESM Team of the Season
- Serie A Best Striker
- Serie A Team of the Season
- Ghana Football Awards Best African International
- Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Top scorer (10 goals)
- Serie A Footballer of the Year
- Serie A Team of the Year
From Olusosun to the pinnacle of Africa
Osimhen has come a long way and merits every accolade that has come his way including the latest at the CAF Awards 2023.
The boy who hawked water under the bridge of Lagos has risen from humble beginnings to become the King of Naples and present Nigeria to the world as the giant of Africa.
From the moment Osimhen led the Golden Eaglets to the FIFA U-17 triumph in 2017, it was evident that the lanky lad was on the way to greatness.
The road may have been bumpy, but he has traversed a course even giants fear to tread.
To complete his retinue of accolades, Osimhen must lead the Super Eagles to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next year.
The former Lille striker missed the last tournament in Cameroon due to injury but is careful to avoid another absence.
Osimhen has come full circle and is on course for a top European club. He deserves his accolades. All hail the African King.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
