Former Super Eagles star Ifeanyi Udeze has expressed fears that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen could be upstaged for this year’s CAF Player of the Year Award.
Osimhen, 24, finished as the highest ranked African in this year’s Ballon d’Or after his goals helped Napoli win the Scudetto after a 33-year wait.
The striker has also been nominated by FIFA in their Best Awards.
However, Udeze said Morocco’s record-setting run at last year’s World Cup in Qatar could throw up a winner for the CAF Award ahead of Osimhen.
The likes of goalkeeper Yassine Bonou, Sofiyan Ambrabat and Achraf Hakimi shone at the World Cup with Nigeria conspicuously missing.
“The African award is different (from Ballon d’Or). It still has to be voted for,” explained Udeze.
“The 2022 World Cup will play a very big role in who wins it and Morocco got as far as the semifinal.
“But I still believe Osimhen has the upper hand to win this award, though.
“He has done a lot with Napoli to win it.”
The CAF Awards ceremony will be staged on December 11 in Morocco.
Rashidi Yekini, Victor Ikpeba, Nwankwo Kanu and Emmanuel Amuneke have previously won the prestigious continental accolade with Kanu the last to win it in 1999.
There is politics in AFCON. We’ve seen it before. Oshimen might be robbed of it
CAF is the most corrupt football organisation I’ve seen over time, if Oshimen is robbed it is not the first time and will never be. This has started since the day of Hayatou