Oshoala, Osimhen and Nnadozie win big at 2023 CAF awards
By Abimbola Mohammed
Super Eagles /Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, the Barcelona star/ Super Falcon star Asisat Oshoala and Super Falcons/Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie have emerged as major football brands as they won big at the 2023 CAF awards.
The three Nigerian football players and goalkeeper were crowned winners of the CAF Player of The Year, CAF women player award and women’s goalkeeper award sweeping the men and women’s player of the year awards for Nigeria at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
The Super Falcons also won the Women’s National Team of the Year. Nnadozie beat Morocco’s Khadija El-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Olaminii to the coveted award.
This win is history in the making as this marks the first time one country will produce winners of both awards.
Osimhen was named the winner of the CAF Player of The Year Award, becoming the first Nigerian to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Oshoala received the prize in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022 and beat South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Barbara Banda of Zambia to bag the latest accolade that cemented her status in the continent’s women’s game. She claimed a record-extending sixth Women’s Player of The Year as the most successful women’s player in Africa.
Giving her acceptance speech, the new record holder Oshoala said: “This night, I would love to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has been part of my journey from grassroots football to the national level to the club side. Because without you, my coaches, and my teammates, there will be no me.”
“Football is a team sport; it’s a team game and I urge all the federations in Africa to please come together; let’s work together and build our continent. Let’s make it the best in the world.
“It is very possible; it happened in the last men’s World Cup; we saw what happened, and we shocked the world. In the last World Cup, all the national teams that represented Africa in Australia made history.
“And I believe that before the next World Cup, we can get better, we can do better and we can win it for sure. Because at the end of the day, if we don’t support ourselves, nobody will come to Africa; nobody will come to this continent to support us,” she said.
On her part Nnadozie said: “I just want to use this great opportunity to say a very great thank you to the organisers and also for remembering the female goalkeeper this year.
“I also want to say a very big thank you to the Nigerian football president for everything he has done in the Nigerian league and female football. I am a product of Nigerian female football.
“Also, thank you to my club, Paris FC, for all the encouragement, and thanks to everyone who voted for me and who nominated me. And to all the young girls who grew up in Africa, dreaming of become footballers, one day, believe me, dreams do come true.
“My dad never wanted me to play, but I am sure he is going to see this tonight, and he is going to be happy. Keep dreaming; keep working hard. Thank you.”
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