Nwakali Tips Osimhen To Win 2023 CAF Player Of The Year Award

Kelechi Nwakali has backed Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to win the 2023 CAF Player of the Year award.

On Friday, CAF unveiled the final three shortlist for the award with Osimhen, Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi making the cut.

Osimhen is hoping to become the first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 to win the award.

A win for Hakimi will make him the first Moroccan to land the award since Mustapha Hadji won it in 1998.

Only Salah has been a recipient of the award after claiming it in 2017 and 2018.

Looking forward to Monday, 11 December, when the winner will be announced in Marrakech, Morocco, Nwakali posited that Osimhen had a better season than Salah and Hakimi.

“Osimhen emerged as one of the best players last season after winning the highest goal scorer award in Italy,” Nwakali said on Brila FM. “Looking at the players nominated I think he had a better season.

“I believe he will get the highest votes to win the African Player award.”

On Monday, Osimhen won the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Serie A Player of the Year award.

He won the Best Foreign Athlete award in Italy last season.