International Football
CAF Awards return to Morocco to celebrate Africa’s finest on 11 December
The hub of African football, Morocco, will again host the CAF Awards which celebrate the stars of African football. Last year’s edition was hosted in Rabat, the green city and capital of Morocco.
This year’s edition is scheduled for 11 December in the same country that boast of basically, the best sporting facility and organisation. With the country having splendid facilities spread across the kingdom, no particular one has been chosen as CAF informed that it will communicate the Moroccan host city in due course.
Last year, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala and Senegal’s Sadio Madio were the stars, winning the top tier awards. While Oshoala may still be in contention for the Woman’s African Footballer of the Year, following her success with FC Barcelona this year.
Similarly, an obvious choice for Africa’s top crown is Nigeria’s in-form striker, Victor Osimhen who has almost become a global phenomenum and a much sort ‘commodity’ by top football clubs.
He is in vantage position to become Nigeria’s first African Footballer of the Year in 33 years. The last Nigerian to win the award is Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. He was given the award by the then CAF President, Issa Hayatou just before the kick-off of the Nigeria-Tunisia match at the 2000 Africa Nations Cup.
This year’s awards holding in a yet to be named Moroccan city will recognise the standout performers from club and country over the past year, with the highlight being the crowning of the CAF African Player of the Year in both the men’s and women’s category.
Mane and Oshoala will face stiff competition from some of continent’s brightest stars who have shone in the last 12 months.
Previous winners of the men category include Ivorian Yaya Tourer (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014), Samuel Eto’o (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010), Didier Drogba (2006 and 2009), Mohammed Salah (2017, 2018), Riyad Mahrez (2016), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and1999), Abedi Pele (1992) and the great George Weah (1995) amongst some of the colourful previous winners.
In the women’s category, while Oshoala has dominated the category in recent years winning in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022 – she still faces competition from previous winners including Thembi Kgatlana (2018) who are still active. This category counts amongst its previous winners former Super Eagle’s Perpetua Nkwocha (2004, 2005, 2010 and 2011).
Several more honours will also be at stake, including the Interclub Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, National Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year and Goal of the Year.
The Interclubs Women’s Player of the Year award, which was introduced last year after the successful launch of the CAF Women’s Champions League, will continue this year.
The period under review for the CAF Awards 2023 spans from September 2022 until June 2023, encompassing an extraordinary chapter in African football history.
CAF African Player of the Year previous winners : (men)
Year | Winner |
2022 | Sadio Mane |
2019 | Sadio Mane |
2018 | Mohamed Salah |
2017 | Mohamed Salah |
2016 | Riyad Mahrez |
2015 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang |
2014 | Yaya Toure |
2013 | Yaya Toure |
2012 | Yaya Toure |
2011 | Yaya Toure |
2010 | Samuel Eto’o |
2009 | Didier Drogba |
2008 | Emmanuel Adebayor |
2007 | Frederic Kanoute |
2006 | Didier Drogba |
2005 | Samuel Eto’o |
2004 | Samuel Eto’o |
2003 | Samuel Eto’o |
2002 | El Hadji Diouf |
2001 | El Hadji Diouf |
2000 | Patrick M’Boma |
1999 | Nwankwo Kanu |
1998 | Mustapha Hadji |
1997 | Victor Ikpeba |
1996 | Nwankwo Kanu |
1995 | George Weah |
1994 1993 |
Emmanuel Amuneke
Rahidi Yekini |
1992 | Abedi Pele |
CAF African Player of the Year previous winners : (women)
Year | Winner |
2022 | Asisat Oshoala |
2019 | Asisat Oshoala |
2018 | Thembi Kgatlana |
2017 | Asisat Oshoala |
2016 | Asisat Oshoala |
2015 | Gaelle Enganamouit |
2014 | Asisat Oshoala |
2013 | (Not awarded) |
2012 | Genoveva Anonma |
2011 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
2010 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
2009 | (Not awarded) |
2008 | Noko Matlou |
2007 | Cynthia Uwak |
2006 | Cynthia Uwak |
2005 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
2004 | Perpetua Nkwocha |
2003 | Adjoa Bayor |
2002 | Alberta Sackey |
2001 | Mercy Akide |
International Football
BREAKING – Video: Osimhen accepts to join Galatasaray
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/osimhen-jubilates.jpg)
At last, Nigeria’s striker Victor Osimhen is out of the limbo. He has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan.
He is now asking for a release clause at Napoli to become €75m instead of €130m
He also wants a break clause for January in case top clubs approach him over move.
The final points are being discussed. He has been videoed celebrating with the Turkey club’s fans.
International Football
Uruguay striker Suarez to play last international match on Friday
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-2161934515-scaled-e1725270615569-1024x683-1.jpg)
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez announced his international retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year career with his national team as their top scorer with 69 goals.
The 37-year-old, who has 142 caps for his country, made his international debut in 2007 and was key in the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America a year later.
“Friday will be my last match with my country’s national team,” an emotional Suarez told a press conference.
“The fact that is my decision to retire and that I’m not retired because of injuries or that they stop calling me for one thing or another, that gives me a lot of comfort, it helps me individually.
“It’s difficult but it gives me peace of mind that until the last game I have given my all, and that flame has not been extinguished little by little,” the striker added.
Uruguay take on Paraguay at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo on Friday in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup before facing Venezuela four days later.
Suarez scored the stoppage-time goal against Canada that secured third place at the Copa America in July and the striker added that one of his aims was to show he could continue to contribute to the national team.
“My dream was for my children to see me win something important with the national team … that last goal was very nice for them and even though it wasn’t a trophy to take home, it was very nice for them,” he said.
“I wanted to show people again that I can continue to contribute to the national team and, well, I had the Copa America and yes, I could have done it (retired) perfectly after that, but having analysed the situation, I want to do it with my people, in my stadium.
“I want my children to live this experience. Saying goodbye with the people here is something that I don’t know if many have done.”
Suarez has already said Inter Miami will be his last club after joining the Major League Soccer side last year to reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
-Reuters
International Football
Quitting Portugal never crossed my mind, says Ronaldo
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/34P2HEWYWJOKBFGYISOZT244ZE.jpg)
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo dismissed suggestions he had considered ending his international career in the near future, adding that post-Euro criticism did not worry him.
Portugal host Croatia in their Nations League opener on Thursday before welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday.
“That’s all from the press. It never crossed my mind that my cycle (with Portugal) had come to an end. Quite the opposite: it gave me even more motivation to continue to be honest,” Ronaldo told a press conference on Monday.
“The motivation is to come to the national team to win the Nations League … We’ve already won it once and we want to do it again. I might say the same thing over and over again, but I don’t think long term, it’s always short term.”
Ronaldo captained Portugal to success in the opening edition of the Nations League in 2018-19, three years after they became European Champions for the first time in France.
“Until the end of my career, I will always have the mindset that I will be a starter,” Ronaldo added.
“What I feel at the moment, and the coach’s (Roberto Martinez) words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team and I will be the first (to admit it) if that isn’t the case.
“When I’m (no longer) an asset I will be the first to leave. But I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do and what I will continue to do.”
The 39-year-old appeared untroubled by criticism he faced for failing to score at the 2024 European Championship.
“Criticism is great because if it doesn’t exist there’s no progress. It’s always been like this. Is it going to change now? It won’t,” Ronaldo said.
“So I try to follow my path, be as professional as possible, help in the best way possible with my professionalism and not just with goals, assists, discipline, and example, because football is much more than just playing well or scoring a goal.
“The people who give their opinions have never been in a locker room, and I often laugh because it’s the same thing as me talking about Formula 1.
“How can I give my opinion on Formula 1 if I don’t know anything about tires, rims or the weight of the car … It’s normal and that’s why for me criticism is good and part of it, it’s no problem at all.”
-Reuters
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