Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been shortlisted for the 2023 African Player of the Year award.
The Napoli star was ranked eighth in the world at the Ballon d’Or earlier this week and will compete against 29 other stars for the African title.
Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Sofyan Amrabat and Ashraf Hakimi, Yassin Bounu, Mohammed Qudous, Thomas Partey, Vincent Abubakar and Edmond Tapsoba were nominated.
Osimhen was previously nominated for the FIFA Best Award after helping Napoli win the Serie A title with his impressive performances last season.
Osimhen aims to win the continental trophy by finishing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as top scorer.
The last time a Nigerian player won the CAF Africa Men’s Player of the Year award was in 1999 when Nwankwo Kanu led the continent.
If Osimhen wins this award, he will successfully join the list of great Nigerian players who have been voted the best player in Africa.
The quartet of Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amunake (1994), Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Kanu (1996, 1999) are the only Nigerians to win the African Player of the Year award.
Meanwhile, Cilik Orban has been shortlisted for the 2023 Young African Player of the Year award.
Orbán hopes to beat nine other young and exciting contenders for the prize.
The 2023 CAF African Player of the Year Awards will take place in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday 11 December.
