Osimhen, Oshoala set for Nigeria double at CAF Awards
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.
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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.
Nwankwo Kanu is another and he was rewarded with two CAF Awards in 1996 and 1999.
Besides his exploits with Napoli last season, Osimhen has improved his chances of becoming only the fifth Nigerian to be crowned the King of African Football with his goals for the Super Eagles leading to the 2023 AFCON.
The striker finished as top scorer of the AFCON qualifiers with 10 goals to whet the appetite of fans of what is expected at the tournament proper in January.
For the African accolade, he will face competition from the Moroccans who made history by reaching the semifinal of last year’s World Cup in Qatar as well as the consistent Mohammed Salah.
With sharp regional divides in Africa and the attendant emotions displayed by jurors, the CAF Awards have often thrown up some shock winners over the years.
Both Osimhen and Oshoala have typified the individual brilliance Nigeria football is blessed with by what they achieved at the highest levels.
It is now about harnessing this individual brilliance for both the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons to be great again.