While Osimhen bagged the men’s award, Oshoala won the women’s title at an event held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday.

Osimhen, who plies his trade with Napoli FC of Italy won the coveted prize after Nwankwo Kanu who won it in 1999.

Osimhen beat Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and PSG and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to win the crown.

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The Super Eagles striker had an excellent football season in 2022 as he helped Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time after over 30 years.

He had also emerged as the Serie A Player of the season having scored 26 league goals and 31 in all competitions.

For 29-year-old Oshoala, this is her sixth time of winning the award, having won it in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Super Falcon’s Goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, also won the women’s goalkeeper of the year prize, while the team was named the best women’s national team in Africa.

Also, Super Falcons players, Michelle Alozie and Tosin Demehin made the CAF women’s best XI.

Source: NAN

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Uchenna Kanu, with a first-half brace, and substitute Esther Okoronkwo, with a second-half brace, swept the nine-time African champions into a comfortable lead in the fixture.

The result earned the Super Falcons a place in the finals slated for Morocco in the summer of 2024.

Gift Monday rocked the bar from a 22-yard free-kick in the 4th minute before Kanu benefitted from a goalmouth scramble that followed a corner kick to slot past goalkeeper Jacinta Rodrigues.

Rodrigues did better two minutes later when she palmed a left-footed angled drive from captain Rasheedat Ajibade.

In the 14th minute, Kleydiana Borges came close with a shot that was charged down by Oluwatosin Demehin.

Toni Payne missed from close range to let off the Cape Verdeans, five minutes later.

However, Gift Monday made good from another goalmouth melee in the 25th minute, to make it two for the hosts at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

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Petite midfielder Deborah Abiodun, whose turns, swerves and sweet touches were a delight all evening, came close with a 25-yard volley on the half-hour mark.

But Kanu made good again just before the break, making no mistake from a pass from Toni Payne on a swift counter-attack launched by Ajibade.

In the second half, the Falcons again completely dominated, with Okoronkwo lifting the ball past Rodrigues in the 67th minute.

This was after she received a lovely cross from Ajibade by the right.

She then shot past the visiting goalkeeper from a Rofiat Imuran cross from the left with 13 minutes left.

Speaking after match coach, Justin Madugu, said the game was still work in progress.

He said the girls would always give their best for the country any time.

Madugu commended Abiodun for her superlative performance, adding that she needed to be encouraged.

“We thank God the game was won and lost. The game is still a work in progress. We are not going to relent.

“The girls did what was expected of them and they played according to the game plan.

“We were able to analyse the Cape Verdeans game but it doesn’t mean that we are not going to give our best during the return leg next Wednesday,” he said.

Also speaking, the Cape Verde coach, Silvenia Nedio, congratulated Nigeria for their victory.

She said Nigeria was a super power country in African football, and she was not surprised about the score line.

The coach was  optimistic that anything could happen during the return leg in Cape Verde.

“Everything can happen in seconds in Cape Verde and that we know.

“We have learnt a lot from this game and we’ll always give our best. We are doing everything possible to improve the women national team.

“We have nine players that played outside Cape Verde but most of our players play at home.

“But we’ll always give our best at all times. The captain, Vansenia da Luz, also corroborated the coach’s submission saying they will continue to learn and give their best,” he said.

Both teams will clash in the second leg in Praia, capital of Cape Verde on December 5.

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