Why Osimhen Is A Strong Contender For CAF African Footballer Of The Year Award – Jay Jay Okocha Reveals

February 17, 2023

Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen, who currently plays his professional football with the Partenopei, in Italian Serie A, has attracted lots of accolades to himself for an exceptional performance this term.

CitySports reports that top Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea are keen on signing the Nigerian striker in the summer.

The in-form Napoli forward was voted Serie A’s best player of the month for January and was also named the winner of the Serie A Goal of The Month award for his stunning Pele-like goal against Roma in the same month under review.

For Osimhen’s exceptional quality and form, a former Super Eagles midfielder, Austin (Jay-Jay) Okocha has tipped the 24-year-old striker to win the African Footballer of The Year award.

The former Lille forward tops goal scoring chart in the Italian topflight, having scored 17 goals in 18 games for the Parthenopeans.

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Speaking about Osimhen’s chances of winning the prestigious African award, the former midfield maestro, Okocha, expresses confidence that the current AFCON 2023 qualifier’s highest goal scorer is a strong contender for the CAF African best player award.

Okocha said, “Yes definitely, I think he is the best player in Africa right now and I have no doubt that he is a very strong contender for that award.”

On why Osimhen is in top form right now, the ex-PSG star noted that Osimhen’s hunger for goals stood him out among other strikers in Europe.

In Okocha’s words, “You can see in Osimhen’s eyes the hunger for success and I think that is what is driving him.”

The 1994 AFCON-winning Super Eagles player added that Osimhen’s attributes can be linked to his root.

“Osinmeh is hungry to score goals and shoots smartly when he playing. It’s not something that you can learn, it comes naturally, maybe when you grow up on this side of the world, you learn on the streets how to fetch for yourself.”