I want to win Africa’s best player award — Osimhen

Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen has set his sights on winning the African Footballer of the Year award, revealing his ambition in a recent interview with the Daily Mail. The Napoli forward expressed his desire to become the first Nigerian player to win the prestigious individual accolade since Nwankwo Kanu took it home in 1999.

Osimhen, who has been in fine form for Napoli in the Serie A this season, has been tipped by many to win the award after scoring 21 goals in 23 league appearances to lead the Partenopei’s charge for their first Scudetto in 33 years. The 24-year-old has also scored four goals in five outings in the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking about his aspirations to win the award, Osimhen said, “I am not going to lie. It would be my dream to be African Footballer of the Year. I was at the ceremony in 2015 when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won the award. As an African, you dream of this prize, and maybe I can win.”

No Nigerian player has won the award since the former Arsenal forward Kanu took it home in 1999. The likes of Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Vincent Enyeama, and John Mikel Obi have come close to winning the award but fell short in their bids.

Osimhen’s outstanding performances this season have not gone unnoticed, with several top clubs reportedly monitoring his progress. Napoli, who are currently in the hunt for the Serie A title, will be looking to the Nigerian forward to maintain his form as they head into the business end of the season.

The African Footballer of the Year award, which was first awarded in 1970, is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to recognize the best African player of the year. The winner is selected by a panel of CAF officials and football experts from across the continent. The award has been won by some of the biggest names in African football, including George Weah, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, and Mohamed Salah.