Victor Osimhen has been crowned the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, cementing his position as one of the top players in the world.
Osimhen defeated Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian star Mohamed Salah to win the award.
The accolade on Monday finished off a stellar year for the Super Eagles striker, whose historic win in the royal Moroccan city of Marakesh ended Nigeria's 24-year wait for Africa's top individual honour which was last won by the legendary Kanu Nwankwo in 1999.
At the ceremony, Osimhen praised Nigerian icon Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, and fans nationwide.
"First and foremost, I want to thank God for everything. "I'd like to thank Mr. Emmanuel Amunike in particular; without him, I don't think I'd be standing here in front of you guys, holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football," he said.
The award recognizes Osimhen's achievements for both his Napoli club and the national squad, where he plays an important role. He led the Italian squad to an unprecedented Serie A triumph, scoring 26 goals in the season to become the league's first African top scorer.
Though Nigeria narrowly missed out on a place in the 2022 World Cup, falling to perennial rivals Ghana, Osimhen's services to the Super Eagles were enormous in the year under review. He led the qualification race for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with ten goals.
Osimhen's inclusion in the 2023 Ballon d'Or was a testament to his efforts to the Serie A team's historic performance. He finished eighth, becoming the highest-ranked African for the year and the highest-ranked Nigerian in the award's history.
