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Former Super Eagles left-back Ifeanyi Udeze has said there is a possibility that Victor Osimhen May not be crowned 2023 CAF African Player of the Year.
Osimhen finished eight in the 2023 Ballon d’Or award held in Paris, France, on Monday.
The Napoli striker finished ahead of Mohamed Salah of Egypt, Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Morocco goalkeeper Yacine Bounou.
It is the highest position finished by a Nigerian and a Napoli player in the Ballon d’Or award.
Despite Osimhen’s feat, Udeze pointed out that the CAF award is different from the Ballon d’Or award.
The Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup star stated that the Qatar 2022 World Cup might be a factor.
“Osimhen has the upper hand ahead of other African players but we should remember CAF award is different from Ballon d’Or,” Udeze said on Brila FM’s Breakfast Show.
“The 2022 FIFA World Cup will play a major role especially for players of the Morocco national team that got to the semi-final in Qatar. Messi won the Ballon d’Or because of his performance at the World Cup.
“So that’s my fear for Osimhen winning the African Player of the Year award.“
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The last time a Nigerian player won the CAF Player of the Year award was Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
The late Rashidi Yekini was the first Super Eagles player to win the award after landing it in 1993.
Emmanuel Amuneke won it in 1994, in 1996 it was the turn of Kanu and Victor Ikpeba got it in 1997.
20 Comments
I’ve told Nigerians severally to temper their expectations as regards the AFOTY award.
The people who vote for the balon dor winner are not going to be the ones to vote for the AFOTY.
Africa got to the semifinals of the world cup for the first time in a century, I’m not sure the actors of such a feat will go unrewarded.
Morocco’s achievement is the best ever African campaign at the world cup.
Their semifinal feat is not just the first time in a century for Africa. It’s the FIRST TIME EVER.
And as Udeze mentioned, awards in a world cup year are largely influenced by performance at the world cup.
So indeed, it’s not a sure banker that Osimhen will win the AFOTY. For sure, he is a top contender, but it’s not certain. If Nigeria had qualified for the mundial and performed well there, we might be having a different conversation.
Absolutely, Dr Drey.
I guess Osimhen options to go for a high risk, low returns luxury manoeuvre in bicycle kicks against Ghana in Abuja may have sealed his AFOTY fate.
Indeed, Nigeria’s participation in the world cup, even though we might not have gone as far as Morocco, could have been a further weight in the scale of Osimhen’s AFOTY chances.
Personally, I pray he wins it. But Nigeria’s failure in the Afcon – which Osimhen was absent due to injuries – and absence from the world cup just serve to add fresh rings to a chain of factors that could work against Osimhen in the Africa Footballer of the Year awards.
Bro, Morrocco, is the National team of the year and their coach, the coach of the year. that’s enough reward for the gigantic feat of ” Team Morrocco” at the World Cup. Messi won Ballon D’or because he was massively instrumental to Argentina’s success. Which player in the Moroccan team was very outstanding at the world cup more than the rest of his teammates ? Osimhen also ending up as the top scorer at afcon qualifiers will also be instrumental .Pls help us mention that particular Moroccan player that would outdo Osimhen to the title and let us check their stats. Morrocco’s world cup feat was based on collective efforts of ALL the players and expertise of their coach which deserved reward as TEH TEAM OF THE YEAR and COACH OF THE YEAR respectively.
Hahahaha….I would have replied you properly if Osimhen played at the same world cup.
In case you’ve forgortten, Yassine Bono and Youssef En Nesyri were both instrumental to Morroco’s semifinals feat. They both stood out all through the tournament in goal and in attack respectively and were also integral parts of the Sevilla team that won both the Europa league and the UEFA/CONMEBOL Club trophies.
Osimhen too did not single handedly win the Serie A for Napoli, it was a team effort both by the coach Spalletti and the players….there were the likes of Meret, Kim, Anguissa, Kvarashkelia who also stood out for the Club. Almost half of Osimhen’s goals were supplied by Kvarashkelia in particular.
Nuff said already, before you will accuse me of insulting you.
There are no metrics in determining the winners of these awards…..they are simply determined by votes….and every voting exercise is nothing but a popularity contest.
Y’all should not just be shocked and too heartbroken if Osimhen doesn’t win it….others too have genuine reasons to be crowned AFOTY.
Nonsense! Nigeria won afcon 2013 non of Nigeria players won the award so I don’t understand your logic
What people refuse to understand is that Messi won the balon d or not just because of the world cup he won, but how carried the Argentine team, his goal and assist was so crucial for the team, unlike the Moroccan team, you can’t pick just one player that carried the team so much in his shoulder, it was more of a team effort
I’m banking on this point of yours to tilt the award in Osimhen’s favour. After all, this particular award is not called “African Team of the Year”, but “African FOOTBALLER of the year”; it’s more about a shining individual than a collective….and besides, CAF has a separate award for National Team of the Year, the Moroccans can surely have that, definitely!
Seems you’ve also forgotten that Messi had Emiliano Martinez (who pulled of an incredible 120th-minute save in the WC final to give Messi a chance to lift the WC) in goal, Lizzy Martinez in CD, Enzo and McAllister in the midfield, all behind Messi, and a Di Maria/Alvarez combo up front.
As much as I see your line of thought, I also want to let you know it can be argued with facts and logic, that Messi and nay Osimhen’s Napoli feats were also products of team efforts.
As “teamly” as Morroco’s run to the semi-finals of the WC was, history will never forget a name like Yassine Bono their GK for his unmatched individual contribution to that feat.
Morocco didn’t have a standout player at the World Cup. It was tactics and strategy. Their coach was by far their start man. Osimhen should win easily.
We all want him to win, but others especially the Moroccan players that got to the semis have more chance.
Bro, Morrocco, is the National team of the year and their coach, the coach of the year. that’s enough reward for the gigantic feat of ” Team Morrocco” at the World Cup. Messi won Ballon D’or because he was massively instrumental to Argentina’s success. Which player in the Moroccan team was very outstanding at the world cup more than the rest of his teammates ? Osimhen also ending up as the top scorer at afcon qualifiers will also be instrumental .Pls help us mention that particular Moroccan player that would outdo Osimhen to the title and let us check their stats. Morrocco’s world cup feat was based on collective efforts of ALL the players and expertise of their coach which deserved reward as TEH TEAM OF THE YEAR and COACH OF THE YEAR respectively.
Which player in the Super Eagles was outsatnding at the world cup….??? Oopss….sorry….we didn’t even qualify.
Let me shock you….in the last 40 years, the AFOTY award in any world cup year has been won by a player who played at the world cup.
Correct me if I am wrong.
More reasons why you should be worried.
Like I said earlier, yall should temper your expectations and your sense of entitlement with some caution.
As much as a few odds seem to favor Victor, a lot of other odds do not.
Nigerians, just listen to yourselves, you guys are basically campaigning for other Nationals,telling would be voters why they should not vote for your candidate.We should all be rooting for Osimehen right now and not telling the whole World why he should not be voted for.
Not Nigerians de campaigning their own candidate, basically telling the world why they shouldn’t vote for Osimhen. Mumu country as always Lmao!
Yes. The ‘Moroccan team’ did well at the last world cup. Emphasis on team. On the contrary,this is an individual award.
Individually,the best Moroccan player for the year in context should be Bounou. Some might argue Hakimi or Amrabat.
That said, rationally speaking, this award is between Osimhen, Mahrez and Anguissa. With a slight edge towards Osimhen. And I say this with no bias.
Messi’s Victory at ballon d’or is a broad day robbery.
World cup is barely 4 weeks challenge, how a 54 weeks accolades is trimmed down to 4 weeks beat my imagination.
The award is for one calendar Year not a 4 weeks (one month) accolades. Messi did exploit at the wc, but let’s not forget about how referees favored and pampered the Argentina team to the final.
As for Moroccan team that reached the semi finals, apart from ziyech, I can’t see any player that did something special in that team.
We all watched them, the coach used Rorh’s approach…. Tighten up defence.
Caf awards isn’t a 4 weeks WC matches…. It’s not November to December 2022, but from January to December 2022.
How did these players perform within this period.
Infact I was ashame when I see the names caf shortlisted for the award. I was like, is this the Best players Africa can boast of?
Some of the names they shortlisted aren’t among the top 150 best players in the world but here comes a number 8 player in ballon d’or and somebody is telling me he’s not a sure bet for the award…. Udeze are you whyning me?
Who you want impress @Udeze?
U dey whyne Joseph or Mary?
World cup criteria is classified under TEAM WORK. Morocco reached semi finals as a team not as individual.
Somebody won treble with Man City… This is team work not individual.
A goalie reached WC semi finals and also won EUROPA CUP…
this is team work not individual.
Udeze mention one thing all this average African players won individually in Europe last year as compared to VO9.
Serie A top scorer
Serie A Best striker
Afcon top scorer 10 goals
Plus
Team Glory
VO9 ALL THE WAY PLS.
Thank you very much at UBFE, majority have forgotten that that there’s an award for the semi final Moroccans got to . They can win CAF Team of the year award but base on Individual record? Even Ziyech, Hakimi , Amrabat can’t win it, base on what? Because their team got to semi final? Make we wait and see sa.
Hmm! This is a good discussion. Yes, it is posible that Osimhen to lose the award to another player because of individual vote, however, he do deserve to win. But why do you keep mentioning Messi? His effort is noted but I honestly thing that the thought of him has already overwhelmed people in world of football. That’s is why he won his sixth and seventh. Last world cup, even though Frace came short of winning, Mbape was more influential that any player at the world cup and won the goaldin boot. With Osimhen, he is the best African player right now. Yes, he won the serial A, the best scorer, fifa best young player, and some more performance with mentioning. But his way of playing, ambition etc should put him in the place to win. However, don’t be disappointed.
Osimhen is without doubt the best in Africa last season.Anguissa Cameroon,Bonno Morocco and Mahrez Algeria will make the final shortlist but Osimhen undoubtedly,was the best African player last season he was a monster of a striker.