Video: Super Eagles stars give Osimhen standing ovation for winning African Best Player Award

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have celebrated their colleague, Victor Osimhen on emerging the 2023 African Footballer of the Year.

The 25-year-old Napoli star beat Liverpool's Mohammed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain's, Achraf Hakimi to the prestigious prize, becoming the first Nigeria to win it since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.

Osimhen, who is currently at the Super Eagles camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the 2023 Nations Cup was hailed by his national teammates on his recent success at the awards ceremony which was held in Marrakech, Morocco.

Osimhen was received by a loud applause from the entire Super Eagles team before he was joined by skipper Ahmed Musa upfront.

The African Best Player and currently the most valuable player in the Serie A, Victor Osimhen @victorosimhen9 was congratulated on his award.@Ahmedmusa718 to Osimhen; “I told you in 2019 AFCON that patient is the perfect time.”

Winning the AFCON would bang right now!!!!

Video… pic.twitter.com/Z8EuLnSPsr

— SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) (@Sports_Doctor2) January 6, 2024

Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has backed the Napoli talisman to win the tournament's top scorer award and propel the team to clinch the ultimate.

Osimhen emerged top scorer in the qualifiers with 10 goals, including a double brace against Sao Tome and Principe in June 2022.

WDN