African Player of the Year Award: Victor Osimhen makes CAF's Top Ten list

• Super Eagles' forward, Victor Osimhen, has secured a spot among the top ten nominees for the prestigious CAF Player of the Year Award.

The 24-year-old striker's stellar performance during Napoli's campaign last season has propelled him into contention for the coveted accolade. Osimhen's brilliance in front of goal played a pivotal role in Napoli's success, with an impressive tally of 31 goals across all competitions.

His contributions helped guide Napoli to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals and to clinch their first Scudetto (Italian Serie A title) in 33 years.

The Nigerian hitman further etched his name in history by breaking longstanding Serie A goal records previously held by football legends Samuel Eto’o and George Weah.

His remarkable achievements extended to the international stage, as he concluded the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as the top goalscorer for both the Super Eagles and among all players.

In early November, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled a preliminary list of 30 players contending for the CAF Player of the Year Award, with Osimhen's name prominent on the roster.

With the list now narrowed down to the final ten contenders, Osimhen faces stiff competition from Africa's finest stars, such as André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Riyad Mahrez, Vincent Aboubakar, Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, Yacine Sofyan Amarabat, Yassine Bounou, Yousef en-Neusiri, and Sadio Mane.

Despite the formidable lineup, Osimhen is the frontrunner for the award, particularly following his distinction as the highest-ranking African player at the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony.

A victory in the CAF Player of the Year category would mark a historic moment for Nigeria, as Osimhen could become the first Nigerian to clinch the award since Nwankwo Kanu's triumph in 1998.

Unfortunately, the Napoli ace is currently injured, and he missed Nigeria's disappointing 1-1 draw against Lesotho in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday. 

Do you think Osimhen is the favourite to win the award ?