Emmanuel Adebayor, a former Togo and Arsenal striker, feels Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen could be named African Player of the Year in 2023.
Osimhen was instrumental in Napoli’s first league triumph in over three decades, scoring 26 goals and giving five assists as they were named Italian champions.
The 24-year-old’s outstanding performance last season put him among the frontrunners for the prize, with Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, who won the treble, and Sevilla’s Moroccan attacker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Nwankwo Kanu was the latest Nigerian to win the award in 1999.
Adebayor, who won the accolade in 2008, told BBC Sport that Osimhen’s performance last season provided him an edge.
“It’s very simple, we have seen the season and for me if you ask me who deserve the 2023 African Player of the Year award, its Osimhen, because of what he has done with Napoli, scoring in all the biggest games in Italy and also winning the Scudetto.
“He has done quite well, who is there (to challenge Osimhen) Sadio Mane was injured and had a difficult season, Mohamed Salah had one of his worst seasons in his career, there’s the guy from Cameroon Zambo Anguissa but the star player in Napoli is Osimhen. If you ask me to vote and I am given 10 votes I will give 12 to Osimhen for the 2023 African Player of the Year,” the former Real Madrid man said.
