Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has congratulated athletics sensation, Oluwatobiloba Amusan for qualifying for the Women’s 100m hurdles final, at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The world record holder won the second semifinal with a time of 12.56 seconds to defeat all comers in the tightly contested race.
Enoh said “Tobi embodies the resilient spirit of Nigeria and we are glad she’s flying beyond all hurdles to do us proud in Budapest.”
“I have no doubt that Tobi can produce her magic again and clinch gold in the final. She has done it before and she can do it again. She has our support now and always”.
Tobi will file out on Thursday night, flying Nigeria’s flag in the final, as she hopes to defend her 2022 title against other top athletes.
She currently holds the world record in the event with a time of 12.12 seconds, which she set in Eugene, Oregon, to slam Gold at the last World Championships.
World champion, Tobi Amusan, qualified for the final of the 100-meter Hurdle at the ongoing World Athletics Championship in Budapest on Wednesday.
The Nigerian athlete won the second semifinal with a time of 12.56 seconds to qualify for the final billed for Thursday evening.
Despite a slow start, the world hurdles record holder recovered in time, clocking 12.56s to finish ahead of Jamaican Achkara Nungent’s 12.60 seconds and Dutch Nadine Visser’s 12.62 seconds.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has qualified for the final of the 100m hurdles event at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Amusan, running in lane seven, won the second semi-final with a time of 12:56 seconds despite having a slow start.
Ackera Nugent enjoyed an early lead before Amusan snatched victory at the finishing line.
The reigning NCAA Champion who clocked 12.60 seconds eventually settled for the 2nd position which was also enough for an automatic qualification for the final.
Amusan who is the world record holder in the event is seeking to defend the title she won last year in Oregon.
Though the build up to the World Championships has been challenging for Amusan, she remains determined to prove her last year performance is not a fluke.
On Wednesday, running in Heat 5, Amusan also won her race and she is now looking all fired up for Thursday’s final race.
Predictably, the usual suspects that will be giving Amusan a run for her money in the final also made it through on Wednesday.
Former World record holder Kendra Harrison won the first semifinal race in 12.33s as Jasmine Camacho-Quinn took Heat 3 in 12.41s, ahead of Nia Ali in 12.49s.
Many are hopeful Amusan is saving the best for the last as it appears her rivals have all posted faster times in Budapest than she had done in her two races so far.
In her characteristic way, Amusan says she is not under any pressure and is ready to take each race as it comes.
[Premium Times]
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has been the best in history for African teams, and it will be remembered for ages to come.
All four CAF representatives recorded at least one win each, with three of them – Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco – qualifying for the knockout rounds for the first time ever.
Several stars from these nations have created beautiful moments for fans, making it incredibly difficult to pick the team of the group stage.
However, here is Soccernet.ng‘s compilation of the continent’s Best XI at the football showpiece.
Goalkeeper: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nigeria
Nnadozie has been one of the standout players at the World Cup and is rated Africa’s best and the second-best goalkeeper overall of the group stage, behind only Jamaica’s Rebecca Spencer.
She had the highest individual rating among players on the pitch against Canada and Australia.
Nnadozie kept two clean sheets in three games and also saved a crucial penalty that earned Nigeria a crucial point against Canada.
Left-back: Ashleigh Plumptre, Nigeria
The England-born defender has been a reliable and consistent performer in Nigeria’s back four.
She has featured in all of the Falcons’ three games, ensuring that Nigeria’s defence has conceded only once from open play at this tournament.
Plumptre, one of coach Randy Waldrum’s most-trusted players, excels with her solidity, technical ability, ball skills, and precise passing.
Centre-back: Nesryne El Chad, Morocco
Despite playing only the last eight minutes against Germany, El Chad’s impact was significant.
In the second game, the 20-year-old put on a masterclass performance beyond her age, helping Morocco secure a historic 1-0 win over South Korea.
She repeated her excellent showing in Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia, securing their spot in the Round of 16 in their maiden World Cup appearance.
Centre-back: Osinachi Ohale, Nigeria
Ohale paired up with youngster Tosin Demehin in the center of defence after partner Onome Ebi was benched.
The Spain-based defender ensured Ebi’s experience was not sorely missed and played a crucial role in keeping dangerous attackers away from Nigeria’s goal, scoring a key goal in the 2-1 win over Australia.
Ohale has been crucial in ensuring the Falcons boast Africa’s best defence in Australia and New Zealand.
Right-back: Hanane Aït El Haj, Morocco
Hanane Aït El Haj delivered a remarkable performance in Morocco’s historic 1-0 win over South Korea and provided the cross that led to their winning goal.
She was equally solid as Morocco kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over Colombia, securing their spot in the Round of 16 in their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Defensive-midfield: Christy Ucheibe, Nigeria
Ucheibe is Nigeria’s midfield general. The 22-year-old has battled 16 more duels than anyone else.
The Benfica midfielder’s total of 18 tackles is twice as many as any of her team-mates, and she is one of only four Nigeria players to have found a team-mate more than 20 times in opposition territory.
Tenacious, unrelenting, and efficient, the youngster is the wall protecting Nigeria’s defence from being breached.
Attacking-midfield: Linda Motlhalo, South Africa
Motlhalo’s dynamic play and intelligence make her a standout midfielder for South Africa.
She has been crucial to South Africa’s impressive build-up play, with a successful dribble rate of 44% and an accurate passing rate of 78%.
The versatile midfielder scored one of South Africa’s goals against Argentina in her best performance at the Mundial.
Attacking Midfielder (Left): Racheal Kundananji, Zambia
Earlier heavy defeats overshadowed the Real Madrid striker’s performance, but she displayed her ability throughout the group stage.
Kundananji’s efforts in Zambia’s victory over Costa Rica were commendable, contributing a goal in their 3-1 win.
Attacking Midfielder (Right): Hildah Magaia, South Africa
Magaia’s fleet-footed, tireless, and versatile play has been a delight to watch in the exciting South African side.
She scored South Africa’s first goal at the tournament against Italy and was crucial in their qualification to the next round.
Striker: Barbra Banda, Zambia
Banda’s near-perfect display against Costa Rica showcased her attacking abilities, as she scored a goal, assisted another, and earned the Player of the Match award.
Despite Zambia’s early exit, her talent was evident on the world stage.
Striker: Thembi Kgatlana, South Africa
Kgatlana’s excellence and determination have been unmatched by any African star at the World Cup.
Her performances were crucial in South Africa’s historic qualification to the knockout round, including her brilliant goal and assist against Argentina and the late winning strike against Italy.
Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has slammed Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president, Luis Rubiales, for kissing Women’s World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso.
Rubiales grabbed and kissed Hermoso on the lips on the podium during the trophy presentation ceremony of the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, after Spain beat England 1-0 to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanchez insisted Rubiales will continue to clarify his action, saying his apologies were not enough.
“Apologies are not enough considering the magnitude of the incident,” Sanchez said.
“What we saw was an unacceptable gesture, Rubiales’ apologies are not enough, I even think they are not adequate. He has to continue taking steps to clarify what we all saw,” Sanchez told a press conference on Tuesday.
Yolanda Diaz, the second deputy prime minister of Spain, has also criticised Rubiales and has demanded his resignation as “a woman has been harassed and assaulted”.
Meanwhile, Irene Montero, the Minister for Equality, perceived the incident as a “form of sexual violence”.
Hermoso admitted she “did not like that” but later spoke out in defence of Rubiales, dismissing his actions as a “totally spontaneous mutual gesture because of the immense joy that winning a World Cup brings”.
She further stressed that the official’s “behaviour with all of us has been outstanding and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.”
Despite the apology, Rubiales stands on shaking ground and it remains to be seen if he remains in his role as RFEF president amid growing pressure from Spanish politicians.
Roma manager, Jose Mourinho is believed to be keen on Mason Greenwood after Manchester United released a statement on Monday, announcing the 21-year-old will not play for them again.
According to Mail Sport, the Serie A side are among a number of teams who have contacted United.
Following a five-month internal investigation, the Red Devils deemed that Greenwood had not committed a string of serious offences he had been charged with.
But the club, along with the player, decided that it would be best if he continued his career elsewhere.
It is unlikely that Greenwood will move to another club in England.
Instead, a switch abroad is on the cards with interest from Italy, Turkey and elsewhere.
Spain's captain at Women's World Cup Olga Carmona learns about father's death after winning trophy
AdminSpain's captain and World Cup final goalscorer Olga Carmona was delivered some heart-breaking news after the match against England, about her father's passing.
Carmona scored the winner against England as Spain won their first Women's World Cup on Sunday, August 20.
The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) disclosed that Carmona learned of her father's passing after the match.
Tragically, Carmona's father had been battling a long illness and had succumbed to it on the previous Friday. However, to allow their beloved captain to concentrate on the most significant match of her career, Carmona's family and close friends had chosen not to inform her of this painful loss.
"The RFEF deeply regrets to announce the death of Olga Carmona's father. The footballer learned the sad news after the World Cup final," the Spanish FA said on social media.
"We send our most sincere embrace to Olga and her family in a moment of deep sorrow. We love you, Olga, you are Spanish soccer history."
During the World Cup's group stage, Carmona's mother and brothers had been with her in New Zealand to support her. However, upon hearing the devastating news, they hurried back to Spain.
Spain beat European champions England 1-0 to become the Women’s World Cup champions in the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Sunday.
Captain Olga Carmona fired Spain ahead in the 29th minute, coolly finishing in the right-hand corner after a rapid counter-attack.
England’s best chance came from Lauren Hemp, who rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike as both teams bid to win the World Cup for the first time.
The game was briefly interrupted by a fan running on the pitch wearing a ‘Free Ukraine’ T-shirt before being tackled by security.
Football will unfortunately not be coming home this year, as the Lionesses fall short of World Cup triumph in Australia at the hands of Spain.
In a topsy-turvy game, Spain have came out on top with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to a 29th minute goal from Olga Carmona at Stadium Australia.
The final also saw England goalkeeper Mary Earps save a penalty, but England were unable to capitalise from there.
The 2023 Women's World Cup, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, has certainly been an eventful one for Sarina Wiegman's team.
England progressed through the group stages relatively easily, starting off with a 1-0 win against Haiti during the opening round of fixtures.
Another 1-0 win followed against Denmark on 28 July, while they thumped China 6-1 just three days later.
The knock-out rounds is when things got tough for England though, particularly the round of 16 clash against Nigeria.
After star player Lauren James was shown a red card in the 87th minute, England managed to hold out for a goalless draw after 30 minutes of added time.
And while England fans may fear the 'P' word - yep, penalties - the Lionesses managed to beat Nigeria in a shootout to progress to the Quarter finals.
A tie against Colombia awaited England next, on paper a tougher test than the Nigeria clash.
But as we all know, football is not played on paper - so the Lionesses were going to face a challenge no matter who they were playing, it is a World Cup after all!
Fortunately, the Lionesses managed to go through to the semi-finals thanks to goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo, despite the South American side taking the lead in the first half.
The hosts Australia were next up for England, a tough task in front of a loud Aussie crowd.
Despite taking a halftime lead through Ella Toone, the Aussies hit back in the second half thanks to a cracker from Sam Kerr.
However, Hemp got onto the scoresheet shortly after, and England's place in the final was confirmed in the 86th minute thanks to Russo.
That set up a date with destiny on Sunday, the Lionesses second major final in the space of just a year.
Whether England came out victorious or not, it was already decided that there would be no bank holiday to mark the momentous occasion.
[ladbible]
Lionel Messi was hailed as the “best in the world” as he scored a 10th goal in seven games to help his Inter Miami side to their first trophy.
The 36-year-old Argentinian fired into the top corner from outside the box to give Miami the lead against Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup final.
Fafa Picault levelled in the second half to send the game to penalties.
Miami sealed a 10-9 shootout win when Drake Callender saved Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco’s spot-kick.
Miami had the worst record in Major League Soccer this season before World Cup-winning forward Messi arrived last month alongside former Barcelona team-mates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
They are now unbeaten in seven games on their way to winning the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs.
It was the club’s first trophy since being formed in 2020.
They also have the chance to reach another final when they play Cincinnati in the semi-final of the US Open Cup on Wednesday.
Co-owner David Beckham said the former Barcelona trio were instrumental in the club’s change in fortunes: “It is like a movie, you watch these players play and, emotionally, everything about their play is beautiful.”
Spain midfielder Busquets added: “The team is growing by leaps and bounds and we are very happy.
“We are making a solid team – and then we have Leo, who makes a difference because he’s the best in the world.”
The win also meant seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi – who was named player of the tournament – has now won 44 trophies, more than any other player.
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From childhood, Effiom Otu-Bassey loved the round leather game – football. He would go far away from his parents’ home in Lagos to nearby school fields to join other boys showcasing their skills. Despite his small stature, his mother, Aye, said he was always the best in the game among his peers.
“He would train as if his life depended on it, and he even trained more than he studied,” she told Saturday PUNCH in an interview. “We were even scared he wouldn’t finish his primary education, but he finished and we pushed him to do his secondary education.”
Aye admitted that at first, it was difficult for her to support Effiom’s dreams of going pro because she believed football was just a hobby and not something one should take as a career. Thus, she said she made sure Effiom concentrated more on his books so he would become an engineer.
However, that never happened.
Effiom, the youngest of three boys, was only one year and six months old when his father, John, passed after a brief illness. Life, according to Aye, took a deep and quick dive.
“We went from eating twice to not eating at all. I lost hold of myself. My husband was the one who did all the work and brought in all the resources. His passing broke the family,” she said.
Effiom’s eldest brother, Lawrence, was around 18 or 19 years old. The second child, Bassey, was five years younger. Thus, they barely knew how to survive but had to with the turn of events.
So, when Effiom told his mother at age nine that he wanted to play football professionally, she said it was a rush of mixed feelings.
“I didn’t want him to suffer. He had known suffering for a major part of his life, so I tried all I could to dissuade him but when I saw that he was serious, I let him be,” she noted, in a wearied tone.
Effiom’s little beginning
Before he clocked 12, Effiom was already playing football with boys almost twice his age. He said he would play at the Surulere stadium and people would wonder how he had so much energy. It was during one of those games that a young man told him about the Kwara Football Academy.
He said he applied and was asked to join some boys coming from the commercial city to Ilorin. His coming to camp, he noted, was a dawn of a new beginning for him.
“I wanted to make the best out of my life but I didn’t know I would end up like this – dejected, depressed and lost,” he added.
Originally a striker, Effiom said he mastered the midfield and manned his position well such that his coaches took note of him. He said whenever he got on the field, the suffering his family faced back at home inspired him to perform above par.
Although his mother said she was not in support of his going to Kwara to pursue his dream, especially because of his young age, she gave him her blessings.
“All I wished for him was to become successful and lift us out of poverty. If anyone had told me football would turn my child into this new person, I would not have believed it,” she added.
Lawrence and Bassey, his brothers, stated that they worked as sales agents for different shops in order to make sure they sent some money to him for his upkeep in Kwara.
Interestingly, it didn’t take long before he was signed to play for the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (founded as Bukola Babes), where they noted he performed extraordinarily well.
A man, who said he coached Effiom at the time but refused to give his name for personal reasons, described him as a ‘spring’ on the field.
He noted, “He was the very best we had. He could man both the midfield as a central midfielder and still play as a striker. He also played right and left midfield sometimes. The entire team knew his prowess. When most players went to sleep after a day’s game, you would see Bassey on the field practicing.
“He became a shining example, especially because he was very young; maybe in his late teens. This was when football really had value in Nigeria, not now that everything has been turned to something else.”
NPL and journey to Norway
After playing for the Nigerian Premier League from around 2009 to 2011, Effiom, then aged 19, was signed to Lillestrøm, a Norwegian club.
Aye said she felt elated when she saw on TV that her teenage son had been signed to play for a foreign club. She said though she wasn’t too happy that he didn’t tell her before leaving for Norway, that didn’t deflate her excitement in any way.
“It was on TV I saw that my son had travelled. I wanted to be angry at him for not telling me, but I told myself it would not change anything. After a few weeks, I got a phone call from him, saying he was still settling down and he would send us some money. It was a really beautiful experience,” she noted.
According to NRK TV, a local Norwegian news platform, the 19-year-old midfielder, Effiom, was signed on Thursday, August 11, 2011. The club had before then sold the duo of Anthony Ujah and Nosa Igiebor, who played for them for a few seasons. Thus, LSK decided to bring in a Nigerian whom they hoped would complement the team.
After the usual rigorous medical test the previous day, Effiom signed the contract, which was to run through the 2014 season.
Described by Romanian sports analyst, Romerikes Blad, as a versatile midfielder from Bukola Babes, who played at a top level in Nigeria, Effiom was expected to be the gamechanger.
In an interview sighted by Saturday PUNCH, Effiom had said, “I enjoy both offensive and defensive tasks. I have mostly played centrally, but can also play on the edges. It is up to the coach where he wants to use me.”
According to several reports by the Norwegian local media, Lillestrøm was to pay Effiom between 1.5m kroner (about N75m today).
Having been on trial at the club for around a month, an investment sporting director, Torgeir Bjarmann, was said to be ‘very happy with his performance’.
In fact, Blad said Otu-Bassey proved to be a box-to-box player who was good on the ball and extremely quick to be a midfielder. “That makes him a young and exciting midfielder who will now have time to develop,” he added.
Another sports journal in Nigeria, All Sports, stated that Otu-Bassey had combined well with his teammates to ‘embarrass’ household names in the country. “He played a vital role as Bukola Babes set an eight-match unbeaten run and scored five goals before his departure for Norway,” it stated.
Season of transfers
Effiom was not the only one who shone at the time. Bassey Akpan, recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the Nigerian Premier League at the time, who represented Nigeria at the FIFA under-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, also got signed to Heartland FC, Owerri, Imo State.
He had played for Bayelsa United and Kwara United before heading for Heartland. He was also in goal when Nigeria won the inaugural WAFU Cup and was a fringe member of the Super Eagles.
Oke Akpoveta of Warri Wolves was also tipped to replace Ujah at Lillestrom. Akpoveta, who is said to be one of the best stars in the NPL, got another chance to convince officials of Denmark’s biggest football club, Brondby IF, where he was billed to play forward.
Clash of agents
Meanwhile, after a few months of playing with Lillestrøm, Effiom noted that an issue arose between the agents who facilitated his moving to Norway and the receiving agent in Norway, under whose supervision he played.
He added, “For weeks, I practiced in fear, because I was always called aside to speak to my agent to clarify an aspect of the contract. I was barely 20 years old then. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew there was an issue.
“Later on, they said the management was no longer pleased with my performance and my contract was terminated. It was like a movie to me and is still like a dream. The arrangement was for me to go back to Nigeria to clarify some things before I could come back on a clean slate with a better agent,” he said.
Effiom said he never disclosed all he was going through to his family, adding that he only sent them some money once because he was still ‘servicing’ some of the terms of the contract that remained unclear to him to date.
“I had to pay some taxes. I also had a lot of other things I was paying for, so when I was paid the 1.5m kroner, I might end up with just about 600 kroner or thereabouts,” he added.
He also noted that the management of Lillestrøm changed following the 2012 season and he was released from the team despite his contract.
Otu-Bassey had to return to Nigeria, with nothing.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Effiom said, “I was duped. I was looking for a way to stay back in Norway but an agent duped me. That is why people will look at me and say I am mad. Am I mad? I am not mad. I am frustrated. They took all my money in Norway. They left me with nothing. I will go back to Norway. I will play for Europe. Nothing can stop me. After all, I am still training. I am still very good.”
Battle with frustration, depression
On Otu-Bassey’s return to Nigeria, he said he went back to Kwara to play for the Bukola Babes (now ABS FC), his team before leaving for Norway, but during the summer of 2013, he said something surprising happened.
“The management there said I would not play until my performance improved. I knew I was struggling with my game but that was because I was and I’m still depressed. I am frustrated. When I returned to Nigeria before the end of my contract, I almost ran mad. I thought my life was gone,” he said.
Meanwhile, his 70-year-old mother said she had no idea her son was back in the country until a neighbour said they saw him in Kwara State.
She added, “We reached out to him and confirmed that he was indeed in Nigeria. We asked him why he refused to reach out or come home in Lagos but he said nothing. He visited for a while but left again for Kwara State. We were even the ones who paid for his transport, his rent in Kwara and sent him money regularly for upkeep.
“After a while, we told him it wasn’t sustainable. His eldest brother, Lawrence, now 49, is into laundry. Bassey, now 45, the second child, is a hotel receptionist. He had to return to Calabar, Cross River, where we are from, to start his life afresh. I also left Lagos to be with him in his father’s family compound in Calabar.
“To date, he has not told us what happened in Norway. He simply became a shadow of himself. He talks to himself and has become so lean and malnourished because he always refuses to eat, bathe or change his clothes. He fights anyone who tries to help him or talk to him about his attitude. He has become a terror.”
A man, Chief Ekpenyong Bassey-Edem, who introduced himself as Effiom’s uncle, his father’s elder brother, said Effiom had become a totally different person from whom they used to know.
He said, “Effiom has really changed. He acts really strangely. We know he is not okay ‘upstairs’ but there is nothing we can do because we do not have the means to. We enquired how to check him into a psychiatric home for examination and treatment because we know something is really going on with him from his time in Norway, but how do we do all these without money?”
The chief claimed that Effiom woke up one night and chased his mother out of the house after a heated argument over a pot of food. Although the young footballer dismissed this claim, multiple sources, including a close associate of his, Samuel Ibanga, who also studied at the Kwara Football Academy, confirmed it, saying Aye now lives with her younger brother.
Ibanga stated, “Effiom chased the woman away. We don’t know what is wrong with him. That is why we are calling on everyone who loves football and has watched him play to come to our aid.”
When Saturday PUNCH put these claims to Effiom, the 31-year-old said he was perfectly fine, adding that all he needed was to go back to his passion – football.
“I am fine; I am just frustrated,” he insisted. “I lost everything. I am now an artist. I do petty jobs for people but I want to play football. All these things I am doing are out of frustration and depression. I was duped. I want to play football.”
Attempts to reach the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Professional Football League Club Owners Association of Nigeria, Chief Aloysius Chukwuemeka, who was touted to have some personal relationship with Effiom, for a comment proved abortive as calls to his mobile lines rang out while the text messages sent to him were not responded to as of press time.
Super Falcons' captain Onome Ebi has celebrated the grassroots coach who discovered her, Mr Paul Okwudili Nnakwe A.K.A (PALEPA).
In the video shared on her Instagram account on Friday, she said, “This is my papa, PALE, Today I wan let you know say I see you as my father, you be my papa right from when I small. Na you teach me how to play ball, yes I sabi play ball but na you put everything for my head wey make me be like this today.
“Today I want to appreciate you, I wan make you know say as my papa don die na you be second. Thank you very much for everything."
Media
Inter Miami and Argentina forward, Lionel Messi has revealed that he’s not bothered about winning the Ballon d’Or award.
Messi has already won the Ballon d'or seven times in the past – more than any other player in history.
In a press conference on Friday, August 18 ahead of Saturday’s Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC, the 36-year-old pointed out that he has won everything in football.
“I think I have said it many times during my career: the Ballon d’Or is a very important award because of what it means,” Messi said.
“I was lucky enough to win everything in my career, and the World Cup was what I was missing. That’s why now, after Qatar, I’m thinking much less about that award.
“Now I’m enjoying my moment. I’m not thinking about the Ballon d’Or. If it comes, fine; and if not, I am satisfied that I have achieved my objectives and…. now I have others with this club. We came here for this, to help the club win titles and on a personal level I’m also thinking about that,” he added
Former Black Stars of Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has backed Victor Osimhen to win the 2023 African Player of the Year award.
Osimhen played a crucial role in Napoli’s Scudetto success last season.
The 24-year-old scored 26 goals in 32 league appearances for the Partenopei.
The forward was the first African and Nigerian to win the top scorer award in the Italian top-flight.
Osimhen also recorded five more goals for the Naples club in the UEFA Champions League.
Gyan claimed the striker is the right candidate to win the best player award.
“For me, he (Osimhen) deserves it. As a striker and seeing what he is doing, for the first time in over 30 years, winning the league with Napoli. He deserves it,” Gyan told Brilla FM.
The Confederation of African Football will the winner of the award later this year.
Former Arsenal forward Kanu Nwankwo was the last Nigerian to win the award in 1999.