Year in Review: Nigerian footballers who dominated the headlines in 2023

In 2023, some Nigerian athletes delivered exceptional individual performances across various sports, showcasing their prowess and making significant contributions in their respective fields.

In the absence of the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Athletics Championship from the sporting calendar, football took center stage, dominating most conversations.

Highlighting top-notch performances by Nigerian stars in Europe and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, this article from mynigeria.com will focus key sports personalities who dominated the headlines in 2023.

Victor Osimhen

The Napoli superstar in undoubtedly the first on the list. The 25-year-old has had remarkable campaign in 2023 both with club and country.

The Super Eagles star made history by guiding Napoli to their first Scudetto title in 33 years. He netted an astonishing 26 goals in 31 Serie A appearances in the process.

With his staggering numbers in front goal, Osimhen won the Capocannoniere award becoming the first African star to manage this feat. He was also voted the best striker in Serie A at the end of the 2022/2023 campaign.

At the international level, the Nigerian striker also ended the year as the top scorer in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers with an astonishing 10 goals to his credit.

To wrap up what has been an amazing year for the boy who hailed from the streets of Olusosun, Lagos, Victor Osimhen was crowned the Best Africa’s Men Player of the Year at recently held CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, beating off competition from Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi.

He became the first Nigerian international to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Asisat Oshoala

The queen of African football was at it again in 2023. Though it wasn’t her best of displays by her own set standards, Oshoala was still right up there ahead of all the other female athletes on the continent.

This year, the Super Falcons striker clinched the league title, the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup with Barça Femeni.

At the international level, the Nigerian striker scored what proved to be the winner when the Super Falcons as Nigerian shocked co-host Australia with a 3-2 win at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July.

For another year running, the 29-year-old was adjudged the Best African Women’s Footballer of the Year for a record sixth time. Asisat Oshoala is a previous winner of the award in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Victor Boniface

The young Nigerian striker started making waves last season at Union SG in the Belgium Pro League.

His outstanding performances in Belgium convinced Bundesliga side Bayern Leverkusen to cash in on him in the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old has been nothing but exceptional for Xabi Alonso’s side since his arrival at the Bay Arena. He has won four consecutive Bundesliga Player of the Month Awards becoming the only player to win all the monthly awards since the season began.

At the time of filing this report, the Super Eagles star had managed 15 goals and 7 assists in 22 appearances across all competitions for Leverkusen.