December 10, (THEWILL) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to honour the continent’s best players, coaches and teams at its annual awards ceremony on December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Nigeria has a strong presence on the final shortlists across several categories thanks to the impressive performances of its football stars over the past year.
With just a day left before the glitzy event, Nigeria is eyed as a favourite to achieve multiple wins. However, the country also saw some potential awards slip from its grasp, with the naming of the nominees in the shortlist, despite coming so close.
In the men’s category, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has emerged as one of the clear frontrunners following a stellar 2022/2023 campaign. Playing a pivotal role, Osimhen contributed 26 Serie A goals to help the Italian giants claim their first Scudetto in 33 years. Yet, he faces tough competition from Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Paris St-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi.
The 24-year-old Nigerian is a favourite still, especially as he finished last season as the Serie A capocannoniere, which is the season’s top scorer, and bagged individual honours like the Serie A Player of the Year gong. On the international stage, he spearheaded Nigeria’s AFCON qualification success with 10 goals. His outstanding form also earned him the eighth position in the 2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or Award, making him the highest-ranked African player.
The striker’s contributions to Napoli’s success and his recognition on the global stage certainly strengthen his chances of winning the CAF Men’s Award. This is Osimhen’s first chance to win but Salah, the Liverpool forward, has already won the CAF award twice in 2017 and 2018. He has consistently been a top performer for both club and country, finishing as the runner-up in 2019 and 2022. On the other hand, Hakimi, the Paris St-Germain defender, played a crucial role in Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His exceptional performances have garnered attention and put him in contention for this year’s CAF Men’s Award.
However, Osimhen’s chances of winning against Salah and Hakimi are promising. His outstanding performances for Napoli and recognition in the Men’s Ballon d’Or Award have solidified his candidacy. While the Egyptian and Moroccan impressed, neither lifted silverware at club level unlike the in-form Nigerian hitman. Barring an upset, Osimhen looks poised to become just the second Nigerian after Nwankwo Kanu to win the coveted award 24 years ago in 1999. The final outcome will depend on the voting panel’s assessment of the players’ performances and contributions throughout the year.
In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala seeks to uphold her status as the continent’s premier player with a record sixth title. She is in contention alongside Thembi Kgatlana from South Africa and Barbra Banda from Zambia. Oshoala’s chances of clinching the prestigious award are quite strong, given her remarkable performances and achievements in the world of women’s football.
Firstly, Oshoala’s record-breaking career sets her apart as a formidable candidate for the award. Having already won the African Women’s Player of the Year award five times, she holds the record for the most wins in the category. This consistent recognition of her talent and contributions to the game positions her as a strong contender.
Secondly, Oshoala’s success with Barcelona further enhances her chances of winning the award. She played a pivotal role in helping Barcelona secure the UEFA Women’s Champions League title, showcasing her skills and impact on the field. Additionally, her contributions, including 21 league goals in just 28 appearances, to Barcelona’s unbeaten league campaign, which resulted in them clinching the league title, further solidify her credentials as a top-class player.
Lastly, Oshoala’s international achievements cannot be overlooked. She represented Nigeria at the Women’s World Cup and played a crucial role in her team’s performance. Her experience and impact on the international stage, coupled with her consistent performances for both club and country, make her a compelling choice for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award. Again, the final decision will be made by the voting panel, but Oshoala’s impressive performances and contributions to the game make her a deserving candidate for the award.
There is also the young player category where Deborah Abiodun leads Nigeria’s charge in this rising stars award. The 20-year-old Abiodun made her name with superb midfield displays for both club side Pittsburgh Panthers and the Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons. In Nigeria’s debut game at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Canada, Abiodun received a red card for a harsh tackle on Ashley Lawrence, marking the tournament’s first sending off.
While that ended her participation in the global competition, the talented playmaker did not relent in making progress, which has earned her a call-up to the senior team ahead of the 2024 Olympics qualifiers based on her showings. Although facing quality competition from Moroccan Nesryne El Chad and Ghanaian Comfort Yeboah, Abiodun could emerge as Nigeria’s breakthrough winner on the night.
In other categories, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie emerged as the only Nigerian in contention for the prestigious shot-stopping prize. Thanks to her heroics between the sticks for both club side Paris FC and her country, the 21-year-old Nnadozie has enhanced her growing reputation.
She became the youngest goalkeeper to record a clean sheet at the Women’s World Cup in 2019 when the Super Falcons beat South Korea 2-0 in her player-of-the-match display, and has continued raising the bar with sterling displays since then. Among her feats was a crucial penalty save against Canada from veteran Christine Sinclair which earned Nigeria a goalless draw to kick off their first match of the 2023 World Cup campaign in Australia in another player-of-the-match performance.
Nnadozie’s positional authority and ability to maintain defensive order also came to light when her club FC Paris qualified for the Women’s UEFA Champions League. She was called to stop another penalty when they defeated heavyweights Arsenal. All of these will give her every chance against Khadija Er-Rmichi and Andile Dlamini in the race for the award. Her consistent improvement and big-game composure make her a strong contender for a maiden individual honour.
In addition, Nigeria’s flagship women’s national team were nominated among Africa’s finest ensembles after another productive year under American tactician Randy Waldrum. The Super Falcons justified their nomination following victories and consistent displays in the 2023 Women’s AFCON and World Cup qualifying cycles. Their second-place group finish and tough knockout round game against eventual finalists England at this year’s global fiesta in Australia and New Zealand consolidated their status among the powerhouses on the African continent.
Despite facing rivalry from fellow nominees Morocco, South Africa and Zambia, the Nigerians demonstrated enough class, chemistry and results on the continental and worldwide stages to clinch this year’s best Women’s national team honour. With their bankable assets like Oshoala and Nnadozie also playing starring roles, Nigeria looks well-positioned for a team triumph.
Not every Nigerian presence at the 2023 ceremony resulted from positive developments, as two prize hopefuls slipped from the country’s clutch. Esther Ajakaye’s omission from the shortlist of the young player of the year halved Nigeria’s chances of actually winning that category. Similarly, women’s coach Randy Waldrum missed out from the final nomination list for his handler gong. Nevertheless, his role in strengthening the national team’s profile was commendable and leaves room for future recognition.
All factors considered, December 11th beckons as a date for Nigeria to savour success across various categories of both men’s and women’s competitions. Osimhen and Oshoala stand out as favourites to cement their spells of dominance. Meanwhile, Nnadozie and the Super Falcons team remain arguably tough contenders on the evidence of their own performances. For Abiodun, it represents an immense chance to announce herself further on the continental scene at a tender age.
Overall, Nigeria parades an array of talents that have consistently delivered on expectations for club and country. At the awards on Monday, the Nigerian contingent is expected to stand proudly as they win and once more be recognised as a force in African football after another era of potential CAF glory.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
