Victor Osimhen will have to contend with at least seven Moroccan stars who shone at last year’s World Cup to be crowned the best African player of 2023.
Attention everyone 🚨
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 1, 2023
Your nominees for the 2023 Player of the Year (MEN) award. 🥁 #CAFAwards2023 pic.twitter.com/nMj2gsC0NZ
Last year, Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinal of the World Cup.
CAF have now nominated Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bonou, Hakim Ziyech, Sofyan Amrabat, Youssef En-Nesyri and Yahya Jabrane all from Morocco on the 30-man short list for the prestigious continental award.
As expected Mohammed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool) and Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr), Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham) also made the list.
Osimhen is the only Nigerian nominee.
Nigeria last won this award in 1999 courtesy of Nwankwo Kanu.
The awards ceremony is billed for December 11 in Marrekesh, Morocco.