Izuchukwu OkosiSuper Eagles of Nigeria and SS Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on Monday evening became the firsr Nigerian player since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 to win the prestigious CAF African Footballer of The Year award.
Osimhen was topscorer with 29 goals in the Serie A last season, helping the club to win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years when Diego Maradona inspired them to win the title.
Osimhen who won the prize for the best young player last year was also topscorer with five goals during the qualification campaign for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivorie.
Osimhen in October was acknowledged as the 8th best player in the world in the Ballon D’Or Awards ceremony in Paris.
Osimhen who is a target of several clubs around the world including Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and ubs in the Saudi Arabian Pro League beat off the competition from Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco and PSG’s Ashraf Hakimi.
Osimhen in his vote of thanks gave kudos to former Nigeria international and winner of the award in 1994, Emmanuel Amuneke, for giving him the chance to be part of the Golden Eaglets squad that won the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
Osimhen was topscorer at the cadet World Cup with 10 goals and that feat has not been surpassed.
Othef Nigerian legends to have won the award include late Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997).
Austin Jay Jay Okocha did not win the CAF Player of the Year in his illustrious career but was winner of the BBC version in 1994.
Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie won the Best goalkeeper of the year award.
She gave credit to the Nigeria Football Federation as she is a product of the local league.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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