AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
How Osimhen went from Lagos street hawker to become African Football King
Victor Osimhen has been hailed as the “new king of Africa” after the Nigeria striker was named as the continent’s Footballer of the Year for 2023.
The 24-year-old Napoli man picked up the prize at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) awards on Monday night, seeing off competition from Egypt captain Mohamed Salah and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi.
For Osimhen, who grew up on the dusty streets of Olusosun in Lagos, it is a “dream come true” after facing the stark reality of life as a child.
“I have to thank everybody who has helped me on this journey and all Africans who have helped to put me on the map despite my faults,” Osimhen said.
Greeted daily with the stench from a waste dump in his neighbourhood, Osimhen says he had a burning desire to succeed against all odds.
He had to sell newspapers and bottles of water, describing his situation as being “in the trenches”.
“As a young boy who had to hawk in traffic almost every day in order to survive the numerous challenges my family and I were facing, becoming a treasure in Africa and world football was a wild dream,” he said in a message posted on X.
“My football journey has been a rollercoaster of highs, tough lows and emotions.
“The goals and jubilation of victories keep me going even when the critics, hate and pain of defeats hit me hard in the chest.”
After scoring 26 goals to help Napoli to a first Italian league title in 33 years, Osimhen became the first Nigerian to win the Caf’s men’s award since former Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
“What Osimhen has done is incredible,” ex-Arsenal and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who won the award in 2008, told Caf TV.
“Scoring goals may be easy in England but doing so in Italy is not because they are defensively and tactically strong.”
With former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, himself a two-time Caf Footballer of the Year, describing the former Lille striker as Africa’s new footballing royalty, there are now hopes that he can spur Nigeria on to a new era of success.
Destiny’s child
Osimhen’s rise to the top has been a slow burn rather than the story of a one-season wonder.
Osimhen (left) burst onto the scene at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2015
Starring for Nigeria in their victorious 2015 Under-17 World Cup was the turning point in his career which indicated he was a child of destiny.
His 10 goals in Chile secured the golden boot and saw him named Caf’s Young Player of the Year – yet Osimhen almost missed out on selection for the squad.
“I had already overlooked him because he was paired with other players who played badly,” Emmanuel Amuneke, the coach of that side, told BBC Sport Africa.
“But my backroom staff noticed him and drew my attention to him. I gave him another chance and he proved himself to make the squad.”
It was no surprise that Osimhen, after receiving his Caf award in Morocco, praised his former coach for helping him fulfil his dreams.
“Special thanks goes to Emmanuel Amuneke. Without him, I don’t think I would be standing here holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football,” he said.
There have certainly been a few bumps along the way.
His move to German club Wolfsburg in January 2017 almost turned out to be a nightmare for the young prospect, who featured 16 times without scoring before a loan switch to Charleroi in Belgium in 2018-19 provided a lifeline.
Osimhen’s reputation was enhanced at Lille to the point that Napoli were reported to have paid $96m (£76.5m) – one of the highest fees ever for an African player – for his services in July 2020.
Before his stellar season which secured a historic Serie A title, he was forced to miss out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) because of Covid-19 and a facial injury which still requires him to play wearing a protective mask.
Moreover, he had to deal with the death of both his mother and father in 2020
“Losing my dear parents in the course of this journey leaves a scar in my heart as they have always been my major driving force for success,” Osimhen added in his post on X.
“To my wonderful family, thanks for always having my back and loving me so much. I wouldn’t have made it this far without your support.”
-BBC
Iran’s conflict with the U.S. and Israel has led to sporting events being postponed in several countries, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.
ATHLETES’ ARRIVALS AT PARALYMPIC GAMES DISRUPTED
The International Paralympic Committee said it is working to find solutions after several athletes were finding it difficult to travel to the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games due to travel disruptions in several Middle Eastern airports.
“The closure of airspace in the Middle East is impacting the arrival of some stakeholders… we are working diligently with Milano Cortina 2026 to find solutions for those affected,” the IPC said on Tuesday.
TENNIS IN UAE HALTED DUE TO SECURITY ALERT
The ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was cancelled due to safety concerns after a security alert abruptly halted play.
The ATP Tour later said a charter flight had been arranged , “fully funded by the ATP to assist with departures from the region at no cost to players”.
U.S. WITHDRAW FROM HOCKEY WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
The U.S. men’s hockey team withdrew from a hockey World Cup 2026 qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt, after an official advisory from the State Department urging all U.S. citizens to leave nations within or close to conflict zones.
The International Hockey Federation said the U.S. team had withdrawn with the body’s “full support” and the team departed Egypt earlier on Wednesday.
SOCCER MATCHES IN IRAN AND QATAR POSTPONED, SPAIN V ARGENTINA IN DOUBT
All sporting events in Iran have been cancelled until further notice, including the country’s top-flight Persian Gulf Pro League.
The Qatar Football Association indefinitely postponed all soccer matches in the country, putting in doubt a clash between Spain and Argentina set for Doha on March 27. The Bahraini FA also halted all domestic competitions.
ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES POSTPONED
Round of 16 clashes featuring Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed until further notice.
Next week’s quarter-final clashes in the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League, featuring clubs from the region, are also postponed, the continental soccer body (AFC) said on Wednesday.
TENNIS PLAYERS MEDVEDEV, RUBLEV STUCK IN DUBAI
Russian players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who participated in the Dubai Tennis Championships last week, were among players facing travel difficulties in reaching California for the Indian Wells Open.
The ATP Tour said on Wednesday that the vast majority of players who were in Dubai had successfully departed on selected flights.
WEC POSTPONES SEASON OPENER IN QATAR
The World Endurance Championship postponed its season-opening race scheduled for March 28 at the Lusail circuit in Qatar, until later this year.
“A new date for the Qatar 1812km during the second half of the campaign will be finalised and communicated in due course,” the WEC said in a statement.
MIDDLE EASTERN F1 RACES HANG IN THE BALANCE
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who heads the global motorsport governing body FIA, said safety will be their main concern when taking a decision on next month’s Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
“Safety and wellbeing will guide our decisions as we assess the forthcoming events scheduled there for the FIA World Endurance Championship and the FIA Formula One world championship,” he said on Monday.
SINDHU WITHDRAWS FROM BADMINTON’S ALL ENGLAND OPEN
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu withdrew from the All England Open after being stranded for days at Dubai airport. She returned to India on Tuesday.
“Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back at my house,” Sindhu wrote on X.
-Reuters
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Three Super Eagles players have made the shortlist for this year’s AF Awards holding in Marrakesh, Morocco in December.
Expectedly, Ademola Lookman is listed among those for the elite award, the African Footballer of the Year. He is joined by Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong. The revelation came from CAF through their X handle.
There are 10 players on the shortlist and in the next few days, that will be cut by half before the final three.
Listed in the elite category are Amine Gouiri of Algeria, Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire), Chancel Mbemba (Congo), Serhou Guiracy (Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco) and Rowen Williams (South Africa).
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award. He will contest the award with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou (now in Saudi Arabia), Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, and Senegal’s Djigui Diarra and Cameroon’s Andre Onana.
AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Nigerian Breweries raise a toast to Osimhen, Oshoala, and Nnadozie on CAF Awards victories
Nigerian Breweries Plc, a long-standing pillar of support for Nigerian football, has expressed immense pride and joy in the nation’s historic achievements at the 2023 CAF Awards.
The victories of Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen, and Super Falcons’ duo of Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, were celebrated by the Head of Marketing Communications at Nigerian Breweries, Sandra Amachree who stated, “It is incredibly pleasing to see Nigerian football being celebrated in such a positive light.
This feat serves as a powerful inspiration and bodes well for the upcoming 2024 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for both men and women in Cote D’Ivoire and Morocco, respectively.”
Sandra Amachree further highlighted the significance of these awards, emphasizing their potential to inspire further investment in Nigerian football by Nigerian Breweries.
“This success is a testament to the dedication and talent of our players, and it encourages us to continue investing in initiatives that raise the bar for football in Nigeria,” she added.
Osimhen ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait; winning the coveted ‘African Footballer of the Year’ award.
The Napoli striker follows in the footsteps of Nigerian legends like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, and Victor Ikpeba
For Oshoala, she continued her reign as the queen of African football by securing a record-extending sixth CAF Player of the Year (Women) award.
While Nnadozie’s impressive performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was duly acknowledged as she was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) title.
The Super Falcons, consistently supported by Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, received their due recognition as they were crowned the Women’s National Team of the Year.
Nigerian Breweries, through some of its brands like 33 Export Lager, Star Lager, Life Continental Beer, Amstel Malta Ultra, and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, has consistently demonstrated its unwavering support for Nigerian football since February 2018.
This commitment extends to both the men’s and women’s teams, as showcased by their continued backing of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons respectively.
Osimhen, a past recipient of the 33” Export Lager Man-of-the-Match Award, represents the ongoing commitment of 33 Export Lager and Life Continental Beer to the Super Eagles.
Similarly, the Super Falcons have enjoyed unparalleled support from Amstel Malta Ultra and Zagg Energy Drink with Malt, fostering a strong partnership between the brands and the women’s national team.
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