Nigeria’s Osimhen and Oshoala crowned African Players of the Year at 2023 CAF Awards

Nigerians Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala won the two biggest individual awards at the CAF Awards 2023 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Monday evening, December 11, 2023.

Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who made headlines in Italy and also for his contribution to the Super Eagles, won the CAF African Player of the Year award for the first time in his career, while her compatriot, Oshoala, won her sixth African Player of the Year title, a record.

His remarkable career allowed him to resist strong competition from Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah.

Nigerian football icon, Asisat Oshoala has won the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award for the sixth time in her career. The striker contributed to FC Barcelona’s dominance in winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League, finishing as the club’s top scorer with 27 goals in all competitions.

Moroccan Walid Regragui was crowned the best coach of the year for men’s football by CAF, an accolade after leading the Atlas Lions to the semi-final of the World Cup in Qatar.

South Africa’s Desiree Ellis received the Women’s Football Coach’s Award for her outstanding work with Banyana Banyana.

In interclub, Percy Tau was voted best player in this category. A new title for the South African after that of African champion with Al Ahly.

Senegalese Lamine Camara has won the CAF Young Player of the Year award, marking his meteoric rise in African football.

Nesryne El Chad won the premfulgurantes CAF Young Player of the Year award. Morocco won the men’s national team award following their performance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, while Nigeria won the women’s team award.

Egyptian club Al Ahly won the Men’s Club of the Year award, while the women’s award went to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The winners in each category were chosen following a voting process involving a panel made up of members of the CAF Technical Committee, coaches, team captains and media professionals.

CAF Awards 2023 winners

Player of the year (men): Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)

Player of the Year (Women): Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria, Barcelona)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)

Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR)

Coach of the year (men): Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Coach of the Year (Women): Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

Goalkeeper of the year (men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)

Goalkeeper of the year (women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)

Young player of the year (men): Lamine Camara (Senegal, Metz)

Young player of the year (women): Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille)

National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco

National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria

Club of the Year (men): Al Ahly (Egypt)

Club of the Year (Women): Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Best XI Africa (as compiled by FIFPRO Africa)

Best XI Africa – Ladies   (as compiled by FIFPRO Africa)

Credit: CAF Communications Department