Victor Osimhen nominated for 2023 Ballon d’Or

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has secured a place as a nominee for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, marking the first time in 24 years that a Nigerian male footballer has achieved this honor. Simultaneously, Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has earned her second consecutive nomination for the 2023 Ballon d’Or Women’s Player of the Year award.

Osimhen, the star striker for the Super Eagles, boasts an impressive international record of 17 goals in 25 appearances. His nomination signifies the first for a Nigerian male player since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. He joins the exclusive ranks of Nigerian footballers recognized by the Ballon D’Or, which includes Finidi George (1995), Austin Jay-Jay Okocha (1995), Daniel Amokachi (1995), Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), Sunday Oliseh (1998), and Asisat Oshoala (2022, 2023).

This landmark day for Nigeria sees Osimhen restoring the nation’s footballing pride, while Oshoala continues to establish herself as Africa’s finest player. Oshoala made history in 2022 by becoming the first female African player to secure a Ballon d’Or nomination, finishing 16th among the 30 shortlisted players. As the reigning Africa Women’s Player of the Year, she played a pivotal role in FC Barcelona’s victory in the 2022/23 Spanish league, being the top scorer with 27 goals in all competitions and helping the team clinch the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Oshoala’s remarkable achievements extend to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she became the first Nigerian and the first female African player to score in three different editions of the tournament. With 31 international goals and three Women’s African Cup of Nations titles with the Super Falcons, Oshoala’s legacy in African women’s football is unparalleled.

Victor Osimhen now finds himself among the 30 star players nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or Men’s award, competing alongside Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi and Manchester City forward Erling Haaland. Osimhen’s remarkable form at Napoli, where he has notched 62 goals in 103 appearances, places him as one of Europe’s top players. His 26 Serie A goals in the previous season played a pivotal role in Napoli’s first Scudetto win in over three decades. Moreover, he holds the distinction of being the highest-scoring African player in the Italian top flight, surpassing the record set by Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, where the winners of the Ballon d’Or 2023 will be revealed.