Former Nigerian star, Emmanuel Amunike has tipped Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen to win the 2023 African Player of the Year after the Super Eagles forward finished eighth in the 2023 men’s Ballon d’Or list.
Amunike, himself a former winner of the African best player award in 1994, believes Osimhen has done enough to win the gong last won by a Nigerian player in Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
But to win the award, the 24-year-old Osimhen will have to fend off competition from 30 of Africa’s top players including Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, Andre Onana, and other top stars on the continent.
But Amunike, who was instrumental to the discovery of Osimhen, believes his protege has what it takes to pick the award this year following his 8th place finish in the Ballon d’Or ranking, after an outstanding season in the Serie A where h he scored 26 goals to help Napoli win their first Italian title in 33 years.
“We hope he wins the CAF award with what he has done for his club and the national team,” Amunike, a former Barcelona star, said in an interview with BBC Africa Sports.
“Regardless of not playing at the World Cup held in Qatar last year, he has been able to establish himself as a worthy contender,” the Afcon winner said.
“There is no doubt about his character, in terms of his desire and zeal to achieve something, succeed and win.”
Amunike, who discovered Osimhen during an under 17 tournament, said his zeal and enthusiasm endeared the young forward to him.
“As a coach at youth level, that was something that made me admire him. That is one of the best attributes for a player to make it to the highest stage.”