Osimhen, Oshoala wins Africa Footballer of the Year as Nigeria makes history in CAF Awards
The glitz and glamour of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards illuminated Palais des Congrès, Marrakech, in Morocco on Monday night, but the brightest stars shone not from the stage lights, but from the podium.
Nigeria Internationals Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala, ascended to the highest thrones, claiming the continent’s prestigious Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards.
Osimhen, the Napoli powerhouse, capped a phenomenal year with a dominant victory in the men’s category. His 26 goals won him the highest goal scorer award, a record for an African player in Serie A, and propelled him past formidable competition like Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi.
Osimhen becomes the first Nigerian player to win the Men’s Footballer of the Year award for the first since 1999 when Nwankwo Kano defeated Sammy Kuffour and Ibrahima Bakayoko.
This feat also takes Nigeria win to 6, leveled with Côte d’Ivoire as the country with most wins in the Men’s category.
HIST6RY!!!
1993: Yekini 🏆
1994: Amunike 🏆
1996: Kanu 🏆
1997: Ikpeba 🏆
1999: Kanu 🏆
2023: OSIMHEN 🏆Nigeria equals Côte d'Ivoire as the country with most Africa Footballer of the Year winner.#CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/P00q8oZNwz
— Made In Africa Sport (@madeinafricaweb) December 11, 2023
Meanwhile, Oshoala, the Barcelona Femení maestro, continued her reign as the undisputed queen of African football. Her record-extending sixth Player of the Year award, surpassing even the legendary Perpetua Nkwocha’s four, solidified her place as an all-time African footballing icon.
Her role in Barcelona’s Champions League triumph and Nigeria’s Women’s World Cup run furthered her cause to win the accolades.
Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie also became the inaugural winner of the the Women’s goalkeeper of the year award.
But the night wasn’t just about player’s brilliance. Morocco’s Walid Regragui, who masterminded the Atlas Lions’ historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar, was crowned Best Coach (Men), while South Africa’s Desiree Ellis claimed her fourth consecutive Best Coach (Women) award, a testament to her incredible work with Banyana Banyana.
Elsewhere, South Africa continued its dominance, with Percy Tau (Al Ahly) winning Interclub Player of the Year (Men) and Banyana Banyana scooping the Best XI in the Women’s category. The Young Player awards saw Senegal’s Lamine Camara and Morocco’s Nesryne El Chad take home the honors.
National team triumphs were also celebrated, with Morocco’s World Cup achievement earning them the Men’s National Team award, while Nigeria’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations success secured them the Women’s National Team title.
Club giants Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns were recognized as the best in Africa, claiming the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year awards, respectively.
Full List of Award Winners:
Player of the Year (Men): Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
Player of the Year (Women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)
Coach of the Year (Men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)
Young Player of the Year (Women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)
National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco
National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria
Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly (Egypt)
Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Men’s Africa XI (As compiled by FIFPRO Africa)
|
LINE |
NAME |
CLUB |
NATIONALITY |
|
Goalkeeper |
André Onana |
Internazionale / Manchester United |
Cameroon |
|
Defender |
Achraf Hakimi |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Morocco |
|
Defender |
Chancel Mbemba |
Olympique Marseille |
DR Congo |
|
Defender |
Kalidou Koulibaly |
Chelsea / Al-Hilal |
Senegal |
|
Midfielder |
André-Frank Zambo Anguissa |
Napoli |
Cameroon |
|
Midfielder |
Mohammed Kudus |
AFC Ajax / West Ham United |
Ghana |
|
Midfielder |
Sofyan Amrabat |
Fiorentina / Manchester United |
Morocco |
|
Midfielder |
Thomas Partey |
Arsenal |
Ghana |
|
Forward |
Mohamed Salah |
Liverpool |
Egypt |
|
Forward |
Sadio Mané |
Bayern Munich / Al-Nassr |
Senegal |
|
Forward |
Victor Osimhen |
Napoli |
Nigeria |
Women’s Africa XI: (As compiled by FIFPRO Africa)
|
LINE |
NAME |
CLUB |
NATIONALITY |
|
Goalkeeper |
Andile Dlamini |
Mamelodi Sundowns |
South Africa |
|
Defender |
Bambani Mbane |
Mamelodi Sundowns |
South Africa |
|
Defender |
Lebohang Ramalepe |
FC Dinamo Minsk |
South Africa |
|
Defender |
Michielle Aloize |
Houston Dash |
Nigeria |
|
Defender |
Osinachi Ohale |
Deportivo Alavés Gloriosas |
Nigeria |
|
Midfielder |
Fatima Tagnaout |
ASFAR |
Morocco |
|
Midfielder |
Linda Matlhalo |
Glasgow City |
South Africa |
|
Midfielder |
Refiloe Jane |
Sassuolo |
South Africa |
|
Forward |
Asisat Oshoala |
Barcelona |
Nigeria |
|
Forward |
Barbra Banda |
Shanghai Shengli |
Zambia |
|
Forward |
Tabitha Chawinga |
Jianghan University / Paris Saint-Germain |
Malawi |
