By Victor Kanayo
Top Nigerian international and SSC Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has beat both Algerian star Riyad Mahrez and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to win the 2023 Best African International Player award for the first time in his football career.
While Mahrez plays for Manchester City, Salah plies his trade with Liverpool.
Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was also shortlisted for the award.
The football award is Osimhen’s third individual honour in the just concluded season.
The striker won the 2022-23 Serie A Striker of the Season award, as well as the Capocannoniere for the league’s highest goalscorer.
After leading Napoli to the Scudetto and helping Nigeria’s Super Eagles qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare, Osimhen is a frontrunner to become the first Nigerian since Kanu Nwankwo 24 years ago to be named CAF African Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are set to begin negotiations with the Napoli goal poacher.
The Nigerian was a key member in Napoli’s title-winning side, forming a superb partnership with Georgian international, Khivcha Kvaratskhelia and helping the Parthenopeans to their first league title in 33 years.
The 24-year-old prolific striker had an outstanding campaign with Napoli, scoring 31 goals and providing five assists from just 39 appearances across all competitions.
Any deal to land the former Lille star could face slight issues, as the Italian side have valued Osimhen at a staggering £150m, a fee that would smash the British transfer record.
