2023 CAF Awards: Osimhen, Oshoala whet Nigerians appetite for double

Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala are set to achieve a unique Nigerian double when they are crowned winners of the CAF Player of the Year Awards for both men and women.

Monday night’s lavish Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris has given much credence to this claim after Osimhen was ranked eighth best player in the world, while Oshoala, the only African nominated in the women’s version, placed a decent 20th.

Osimhen owes his ascendency to the top of world football to a stellar campaign with Napoli last season, when he became the first African to be crowned Goal King of Serie A and his goals installed his club champions after a wait of over three decades.

Oshoala, on the other hand, won the treble including a second UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Barcelona Femeni last season as well as posted a decent performance at this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Nigeria reached the knockout rounds against most expectations.

‘Agba Baller’ has already scooped the CAF Player of the Year Award a record four times and bagging the gong in December in Morocco will be the crowning glory for the poster-girl of Nigeria football. For Osimhen, he is the genuine world-class star from Nigeria.