PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and one of his major opponents during this year’s Nigerian elections, Peter Obi, have both hailed the success of Nigerians at last night’s 2023 CAF Awards.
The country cleared the biggest honours of the night in Marrakech, Morocco, with Victor Osimhen emerging as the African Player of the Year, the first Nigerian to win it since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, while Asisat Oshoala claimed a record-extending sixth African Player of the Year (Women) gong.
Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie clinched the African Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) prize, as the nine-time continental champions were named Women’s National Team of the Year.
“I congratulate Nigeria’s Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, on winning the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award, the remarkable achievements of Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who clinched the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year for the sixth time, Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was awarded the Woman Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as the Super Falcons for emerging the Women’s National Team of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023,” President Tinubu wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I commend the trio of Osimhen, Oshoala and Nnadozie for their outstanding performances on both national and international stages, and for being sources of pride to the nation and an inspiration for aspiring footballers across the continent.
“Watching the great ambassadors of Nigeria stand atop the podium as the African Footballers of the Year, in the men and women categories, on Monday night in Marrakesh, Morocco, has strengthened our belief that with hard work, perseverance, and the help of God, everything this nation needs for greatness is within us and available to us.
“I commend Victor and Asisat for not forgetting their roots and days of humble beginnings in the game they love so much and for acknowledging the role of indigenous coaches in shaping their careers.
“I join all Nigerian fans in praying that this well-deserved honour will be the beginning of a continued journey filled with success, triumphs, and the fulfilment of all your footballing dreams.”
Former Anambra State Governor Obi, who ran on the platform of the Labour Party during the election and finished third with over 6 million votes, was also full of praise for the Nigerian winners.
“I like to join all other sports lovers in the country to sincerely congratulate the Nigeria duo of @victorosimhen9 and @AsisatOshoala for emerging African Players of the Year, in the Men and Women categories respectively this year,” he wrote on X.
“While Osimhen has continued to trail the blaze in football even with his recent Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 Serie A Season, Oshoala has now made history as the first woman to win the award for a record six times.
“I also celebrate @Nadoziechiamaka who won the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award and our Nigerian female football team, Super Falcons, who won the 2023 CAF award for the National Team of the Year.
“We are all proud of their awards, which bear witness to their innate talents, passions for growth, and determination for success. My sincere desire is that every Nigerian youth will have the needed enablement to explore and develop their talents, and skills and live to fulfill their dreams, and by so doing help to contribute to the development of our nation. These things are possible in the New Nigeria we are looking forward to.”
