Asamoah Gyan Believes Osimhen Should Win African Footballer of the Year Award

Ghanaian football icon Asamoah Gyan strongly believes that Victor Osimhen from Nigeria is the rightful candidate to secure the prestigious 2023 African Footballer of the Year award.

Gyan’s firm opinion stems from his view that Osimhen, the 24-year-old forward, has truly excelled throughout the past year, outshining all contenders.

Osimhen’s performance during the 2022/23 season was undeniably remarkable. His prolific goal-scoring played a pivotal role in propelling Napoli to claim their first Serie A championship title in 30 years.

In the Italian top-tier league, Osimhen found the back of the net 26 times, an achievement that crowned him as the league’s top scorer—a historic accomplishment for an African player.

His impact was not confined to the domestic league; Osimhen also showcased his talent on the grand stage of the UEFA Champions League, where he contributed five goals, helping Napoli advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Yet, Osimhen’s quest for the African Player of the Year honor faces formidable competition, notably from Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez Mahrez had an exceptional season, securing a treble with Manchester City in the previous campaign.

Another strong contender is Yassine Bounou, who played a key role in Morocco’s impressive semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup and secured a Europa League victory with Sevilla.

Nonetheless, Gyan remains steadfast in his conviction that Osimhen’s individual accomplishments and his contributions to Napoli’s triumph outweigh those of his fellow contenders, making him the most deserving candidate for the award.

Gyan expressed his viewpoint during an interview with Brilla FM, where he articulated, “In my assessment, he unquestionably merits it. His achievements as a striker are truly exceptional, particularly his role in Napoli’s historic league victory after more than three decades. He truly deserves this recognition.”

Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Gyan, alongside fellow football luminary Emmanuel Adebayor, graced the 50th birthday celebration of Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha.

This milestone event took place on August 14, 2023, and was marked by an intimate gathering of close friends and football stars.

Videos circulating on social media captured the presence of numerous renowned figures from the football world, such as Gyan, Adebayor, Khalilou Fadiga, Daniel Amokachi, Julius Aghahowa, and Emmanuel Emenike, all celebrating in honor of their friend’s special occasion.