President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Victor Osimhen, Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie for emerging as the winners of their respective categories at the 2023 CAF Awards.
“President Bola Tinubu congratulates Nigeria’s Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, on winning the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award,” said a statement issued by Mr Tinubu’s media aide Ajuri Ngelale.
At the 2023 CAF Awards gala in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday, Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen defeated Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to win the Men’s African Year of the Year, becoming the first Nigerian to clinch the honour since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Meanwhile, Osimhen’s compatriot Oshoala edged out one-time winner and South Africa’s one-time winner Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda to claim her third consecutive Women’s African Player of the Year award and her sixth in total.
Also, Super Falcons and Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was a winner on the night as she was voted the Women’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year for 2023, while the Nigeria women’s national team, Super Falcons, was named the Women’s National Team of the Year.
“The president also celebrates the remarkable achievements of Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who clinched the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year for the sixth time, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was awarded the Woman Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as the Super Falcons for emerging the Women’s National Team of the Year,” added the statement.
It added, ”Watching the great ambassadors of Nigeria stand atop the podium as the African Footballers of the Year, in the men and women categories, on Monday night in Marrakesh, Morocco, has strengthened our belief that with hard work, perseverance, and the help of God, everything this nation needs for greatness is within us and available to us.”
”I commend Victor and Asisat for not forgetting their roots and days of humble beginnings in the game they love so much and for acknowledging the role of indigenous coaches in shaping their careers,” said Mr Tinubu. “I join all Nigerian fans in praying that this well-deserved honour will be the beginning of a continued journey filled with success, triumphs, and the fulfilment of all your footballing dreams.”
