Strategic partners to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, have congratulated the trio of Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie and the entire Super Falcons team on their triumphs at the just concluded 2023 CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night.

In a press statement made available to journalists in Lagos by GTI Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, the company affirmed that the remarkable achievements of Victor Osimhen, on winning the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year; Asisat Oshoala who clinched the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year; Chiamaka Nnadozie, who emerged as Woman Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as the Super Falcons as the Women’s National Team of the Year is a confirmation that the country is blessed with abundant talents in sports, especially football.

Reacting to the superlative outings of the Nigerian trio, the Executive Director of GTI, Nelson Ine attributed Nigeria’s continental triumphs at the Awards ceremony to hard work and determination on the part of the players involved.

“GTI is proud to join many stakeholders of Nigerian football in congratulating Nigeria’s sensational striker Victor Osimhen; six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala; inaugural Woman Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Super Falcons for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

“The triumphant feats by these Nigerians have redoubled the efforts of GTI in seeing that more Osimhens, Oshoalas and Nnadozies are produced through our strategic partnership with the NPFL in the near future.

“We need to rekindle our efforts at sustaining the country’s soccer prowess going forward and GTI is strategically positioned to compliment the efforts of administrators of sports in Nigeria to actualize this great dream since we have enough talents to make our dream come to fruition,” he stated.

Speaking further, Ine said: “The achievements of Osimhen and co will really serve as an inspiration to aspiring young footballers to always give out their best while wearing the green and white jersey of the country. Therefore, we call on the private sector to continue to play a vital role and support the government in its bid to take sports development in the country to a desirable height.”

However, the CAF 2023 Award prize is a recognition of Osimhen’s exploits for his Napoli club side and the Super Eagles where he is a key member. He spearheaded the Italian team’s unprecedented Serie A title run, scoring 26 goals in the league to become the first African to win the Pichichi (top scorer) Award. Napoli last won the Scudetto 33 years ago during the legendary Diego Maradona’s era.

Also, Osimhen’s ranking in the 2023 Ballon d’Or was a testament to his contributions to the Serie A team’s epochal showing. He was ninth, becoming the highest-ranked Nigerian in the history of the award.

Earlier in the month, the Nigerian was crowned as Italian footballers’ association player of the Year, and became the first African to win the AIC Award.

Meanwhile, GTI have felicitated with the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh and the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau on the achievements of these young Nigerians at the just concluded CAF 2023 Awards.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA, MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

Victor Osimhen has opened up on his rise to stardom, inspiring others who may be undergoing challenges. On his X platform handle, he narrates his travails and how he conquered.

“As a young boy who came from the streets of Olusosun (in Ojota area of Lagos, Nigeria), who had to hawk in traffic almost every day of the week while growing 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.

“Words can’t express the joy in my heart, this is a very special moment to me.

“My football journey has been a rollercoaster of highs, tough lows and emotions. The goals, echoes and jubilation of victories keeps me going even when the critics, hate and pain of defeats hit me hard in the chest.

“The support of my amazing family, my fans most especially my Nigerian supporters and the love for the beautiful game of football motivates me to aim higher daily.

“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 since I was a kid, may their souls continue to rest in peace.

“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 esteemed support.

“To my fans and Nigerian supporters, your dedication in supporting me on the good days and bad days do not go unnoticed, even amidst the arrows of hatred thrown at me y’all still stood by my side. I am grateful.

“Winning the CAF Best African Player 2023 is a testament of my hardwork, your love and support.

“I am so proud of myself for achieving this prestigious award. Thank you CAF, to all the coaches I have played under both local and international, your wisdom and knowledge have played huge roles in guiding my footballing career, thank you so much.

“I am sure my parents in heaven are smiling at me, this is for you. I also congratulate Chiamaka Nnadozie and Asisat Oshoala for their prestigious awards. Dreams do come true! Thank you everyone,GOD is the greatest.”

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