Nigerian heralded a new milestone in the country’s football history in the just-concluded 2023 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, MySportDab reports.
For the first time in the history of the awards, Nigeria became the first country to clinch both the Men’s Player and Women’s Player of the year in the same year.
Super Eagles striker and Napoli star Victor Osimhen broke 24-year jinx, becoming the second Nigerian footballer to win CAF Best Men’s Player of the Year Award after Nwankwo Kano in 1999.
Barcelona Femeni forward and Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala won the award for the Women’s category.
No country in the history of CAF Awards have won the Men’s and Women’s footballer of the year the same year.
Apart from the Men’s and Women’s footballer of the year category, Nigerian female footballers swept the award in Morocco.
The celebration continued as the Super Falcons were crowned the continent’s best national women’s team for the year.
Also, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Super Falcons’ goalkeeper, secured the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Three Super Falcons players – Michelle Alozie, Ohale Osinachi, and Oshoala – were included in the prestigious Women’s Africa XI team.
However, it was surprising to see Nnadozie, the continent’s best goalkeeper, missing from the list.
Victor Osimhen was the sole Nigerian representative in the Men’s Africa XI team, highlighting his impressive season and impact on the continent.
Host Morocco also had a remarkable night, winning in five categories, including the national team of the year for men following their unforgettable outing at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Full List of winners
Player of the Year (Men)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli) WINNER
Player of the Year (Women)
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona) WINNER
Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa, Racing Louisville)
Barbara Banda (Zambia, Shanghai Shengli)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo, Pyramids)
Peter Shalulile (Namibia, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly) WINNER
Interclub Player of the Year (Women)
Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR) WINNER ????
Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Coach of the Year (Men)
Abdelhak Benchika (Algeria, Simba SC)
Walid Regragui (Morocco) WINNER ????
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Coach of the Year (Women)
Reynald Pedros (Morocco)
Desiree Ellis (South Africa) WINNER ????
Goalkeeper of the year (men)
Jerry Tshabalala (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal) WINNER ????
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC) WINNER ????
Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Young Player of the Year (Men)
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco, Real Betis)
Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz) WINNER
Amara Diouf (Senegal, Metz
Young Player of the Year (Women)
Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa)
Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille) WINNER
Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburgh Panthers)
National Team of the Year (Men)
Gambia
Morocco WINNER
National Team of the Year (Women)
Morocco
Nigeria WINNER
South Africa
Club of the Year (Men)
Al Ahly (Egypt) WINNER
Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Club of the Year
(Women)
AS FAR (Morocco)
Sporting Casablanca (Morocco)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) WINNER
