Talented Nigerian football stars, Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala were both crowned CAF’s 2023 Male and female players of the Year, on Monday evening in the city of Marrakech, Morocco.
For the first time, the Napoli striker who have achieved huge feats in Italy and have made impact in the Super Eagles, won the CAF African Player of the Year for the first time while his compatriot, Oshoala won her record sixth CAF African Women’s Player of the Year.
Osimhen grabbed the award after beating African contestants, Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian striker Mohammed Salah.
Superstar, Oshoala who has inspired Barcelona to Champions League glory, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 27 goals across all competitions, continued her dominance, winning the CAF Women’s Player of the Year, for a record sixth time.
Morocco’s Walid Regragui’s efforts- guiding the Atlas Lions to a historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar was acknowledged with the crown, CAF’s Best Coach of the Year in the Men’s category.
For her outstanding work with Banyana Banyana, South Africa’s Desiree Ellis secured the Best Coach award in the women’s category.
This feat for Ellis is her record fourth award in this category, which she has won consistently since 2018.
In CAF InterClub, South Africa and Al Ahly’s Percy Tau won the CAF InterClub Player of the Year.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara, the 19-year-old FC Metz forward, clinched the CAF Young Player of the Year award, marking his meteoric rise in African football.
Moroccan prodigy Nesryne El Chad won the inaugural CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
Morocco won the Men’s National Team award following their performance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, while Nigeria won the Women’s National Team of the Year award.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly clinched the Male Club of the Year award, with the women’s award going to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.
South Africa dominated the continent’s Best XI players in the Women Category while two members of Morocco’s World Cup semi-final team were included in the male version.
The ultimate winners in each category were decided through a voting process involving a panel comprising CAF Technical Committee, Head Coaches, National Team captains and media professionals.
