CAF
African Footballer of the Year 2023: Osimhen, Oshoala, Nnadozie returns glory to Nigeria
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen, Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala, and Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie won big at the 2023 CAF Awards, sweeping African Footballer of the Year awards in the men’s and women’s categories and women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for Nigeria at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
It was the first time Nigeria produced winners in the men’s and women’s African Footballer of the Year and women’s Goalkeeper of the Year categories.
Osimhen was named the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Nigerian to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, just as Oshoala claimed a record-extending sixth Women’s African Footballer of the Year as the most successful women’s player in Africa.
Osimhen and Oshoala’s triumphs capped a brilliant night for Nigeria after Super Falcons goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie won the women’s goalkeeper of the year, while the Falcons were also named the women’s team of the year.
The only upset for Nigeria on the night was Super Falcons Deborah Abiodun losing the Women’s Young Player of the Year award to Morocco and Lille defender Nesryne El Chad. Metz and Sengela’s Lamine Camara won the men’s category.
The honours were decided based on votes by media representatives, coaches, and captains of national teams.
After reclaiming the CAF Women’s Champions League for their second title in the three years of the competition, Mamelodi Sundowns were named the Women’s Club of the Year, while Al Ahly also won the men’s category as a reward for winning a record-extending 11th CAF Champions League title in June.
The Super Falcons captain, Onome Ebi, presented the Inter Club Player of the Year award to AS FAR’s Fatima Tagnaut.
The tension in the room was eased with a performance by Uganda sensational dancers, Ghetto Kids, but the pressure soon returned with the announcement of Nigeria as the Women’s National Team of the Year, ahead of WAFCON winners South Africa and Morocco. The award was not unconnected to the Super Falcons sensational run at the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The room became more lively as Morocco was also named the winner of the men’s national team of the year for being the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup at the last edition in Qatar in 2022.
Al Ahly’s Mahmoud Abdelmenem’s goal against Al Hilal was voted by the fans as the Goal of the Year.
Super Falcons goalkeeping legend Precious Dede handed the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) award to Falcons and Paris FC safe hands Chiamaka Nnadozie. She won ahead of Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Morocco’s Yassine Bounou won the men’s category for his exploits with Morocco at the last World Cup as well as his club Sevilla.
But surprisingly, Nnadozie was not among CAF’s Women’s XI, as three Super Falcons players—Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, and Asisat Oshoala—made the team. In the men’s team, Victor Osimhen, the only Nigerian and African Footballer of the Year, joined Mohamed Salah and former African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane in a three-man attack.
South Africa’s women’s national team coach, Desiree Ellis, retained her title as the women’s coach of the year, while Walid Regragui, who led Morocco to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, won the men’s category.
