Former Nigerian international, Etim Esin says he’s optimistic Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen will win the 2023 Africa Footballer of the Year Award.
Osimhen is regarded as the front-runner to be named African Footballer of the Year on Monday, but the Napoli man faces competition from Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Paris St-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi.
Egypt captain Salah won the Confederation of African Football (Caf) award in 2017 and 2018 – and was runner-up to Sadio Mane in 2019 and 2022 – while right-back Hakimi played a crucial role in Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
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However, in a chat with Completesports.com, Esin stated that Salah can’t deprive Osimhen from winning the prestigious award.
“If the award is base on performance and goals scored then Osimhen comes ahead of Salah and Hakimi going by his exploit with Napoli last season where his goals help them to win the Serie A title.
“I really don’t see any competition as far as the award is concern because Osimhen has done enough to be awarded the crown.
“It will be u fair if something contrary is done to deny Osimhen of the award. Putting all necessary factors together, there is no better player to win the award than Osimhen.”
By Augustine Akhilomen
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COMMENTS
I remember what happened to jj okocha in 1998 when he lost the award to a certain Moroccan, mustafa hadji. I bleeds my heart and I hope it doesn’t happen to osimhen ,because the closest person to him is also a Moroccan by name hakimi. I wish victor osimhen a great victory tonight. He is the new African king.