Osimhen and Oshoala make three-person shortlist for African Footballer of the Year award

NIGERIAN strikers Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have both made the Confederation of African Football (Caf) three-person shortlist for the 2023 Player of the Year in the men and women categories.

Super Eagles striker Osimhen, has made the three-man shortlist in the men's category, while Super Falcons talisman Oshoala  is among the three ladies shortlisted for the women's award. According to Caf, the winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of the confederation's technical committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of member associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

In the men's category, the other candidates are Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi and Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. In the women's category, the other shortlisted candidates are Thembi Kgatlana from South Africa and Barbara Banda from Zambia.

Osimhen was instrumental to Napoli's success last season, as the club won Serie A for the first time in 33 years. He also won the Golden Boot, scoring 26 goals and becoming the highest-scoring African in the league and was also named the best striker in the league.

Oshoala, 28, who is the reigning Africa women's player of the year, scored 21 goals in just 28 games to lead Barcelona to the 2022/23 Spanish League title and was the Spanish club's top scorer with 27 goals in all competitions. She was also instrumental as Barcelona retained their domestic title and won the Uefa Women's Champions League.

At the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Oshoala made history as the first Nigerian and first female African player to score at three different tournaments. She has now scored 31 goals and won the Women's African Cup of Nations three times with the Super Falcons.

Later on this month, the awards ceremony will take place on 11 December 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco. Super Falcons Chiamaka Nnadozie of Paris FC is also in contention for the Goalkeeper of the Year, Women, while Deborah Abiodun has been shortlisted in the Young Player of the Year, Women.