)
Everything you need to know about the CAF Awards saga involving POTY Victor Osimhen and Super Eagles legend Emmanuel Amunike.
Victor Osimhen ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait to see a son of the soil stand above all in the continent’s pecking order for male football stars.
Before the gala, however, a slight controversy ensued when Emmanuel Amuneke, who is credited with giving the striker his big break, was shown in a clip to have picked Salah over Osimhen for the award.
)
16:44 - 12.12.2023
I never picked Salah over Osimhen — Emmanuel Amuneke clears the air on CAF Awards
Former Barcelona forward Emmanuel Amuneke has come out to clear the air after receiving heat for seemingly picking Salah over Osimhen for CAF Awards.
)
15:26 - 13.12.2023
Victor Osimhen is now bigger than JJ Okocha after CAF Awards — Nigerian journalist claims
Following the CAF Men's Player of the Year triumph over Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, a renowned Nigerian journalist claimed Victor Osimhen has surpassed JJ Okocha's legacy in Nigerian football.
Amuneke came out to clear the air the morning after the award; however, before that, the striker specifically thanked the former Barcelona forward during his award acceptance speech, with the viral video yet to be addressed.
Pulse Sports has now collated five important things to know from the saga:
Amuneke was Osimhen's under-17 coach
Given the lack of a proper structure or pipeline for talents in the country into the big leagues, the U-17 tournament plays a big role in introducing and familiarising young Nigerian footballers with foreign agents.
)
Simply put, the level of difficulty of the already daunting task of making it to the European leagues is significantly higher for Nigerian talents who do not follow the U-17 pipeline.
Osimhen earned the move to Wolfsburg, his first European club, thanks to his golden boot-winning performance at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, and as the player himself has narrated on multiple occasions, Amuneke identified his talent among the numerous bidding to represent Nigeria in Chile.
Osimhen thanked Amuneke
The Napoli ace understands how Amuneke opting for him back then altered the course of his life, and on the continent's biggest stage—the CAF Awards—the Lagos-born striker ensured to thank the man himself, who had a front-row seat to witness Osimhen's triumph.
)
Amuneke did not pick Salah over Osimhen
As Pulse Sports reported, Amuneke has addressed the viral video that depicted him picking Mohammed Salah over Osimhen for the CAF POTY, explaining that the clip was devoid of context.
Amuneke explained that he was only asked to pick between the Egyptian and Achraf Hakimi and Osimhen was never in the conversation, hence his answering the question with Salah.
“I was never elected to vote in the CAF Awards,” he said.
)
“A Moroccan journalist came to me and asked, ‘Hakimi or Salah’. I said Salah because I played in Egypt. I lived in Egypt and I know some of the guys there. Osimhen was never in the conversation.”
Amuneke is the assistant coach of the Super Eagles
The 52-year-old has a current working relationship with Victor Osimhen, as he is currently employed as an assistant coach for the Super Eagles under Portuguese boss Jose Peseiro.
Amuneke in line for the Super Eagles' top Job
Osimhen has picked up the APOTY, but he still needs to deliver the AFCON to truly cement his legacy in Nigerian football, and his fate could be in the hands of Emmanuel Amuneke, who is reportedly in line to replace Jose Peseiro.
He already has the support of fans of the Green-White-Green, as following the disappointing performance by the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, Nigerian fans voted overwhelmingly in favour of Emmanuel Amuneke to replace Jose Peseiro.
Related content
15:26 - 13.12.2023
Victor Osimhen is now bigger than JJ Okocha after CAF Awards — Nigerian journalist claims
Following the CAF Men's Player of the Year triumph over Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, a renowned Nigerian journalist claimed Victor Osimhen has surpassed JJ Okocha's legacy in Nigerian football.
)
17:33 - 12.12.2023
I'm playing for money now — Nigerian player Abu Azeez on his move to Bangladesh
Nigerian Beach soccer legend Abu Azeez has left the NPFL for Bangladesh Premier League and he raves about the vastly improved welfare he is enjoying.
16:44 - 12.12.2023
I never picked Salah over Osimhen — Emmanuel Amuneke clears the air on CAF Awards
Former Barcelona forward Emmanuel Amuneke has come out to clear the air after receiving heat for seemingly picking Salah over Osimhen for CAF Awards.
)
11:24 - 12.12.2023
Boy from Olusosun Street - Asisat 'Agba Baller' Oshoala's epic reaction to Osimhen's historic CAFAwards2023 night
Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen were the biggest winners at the CAFAwards2023in Morocco.
)
23:50 - 11.12.2023
FOOTBALL Osimhen ends Nigeria's 24-year wait for CAF Men's Player of the Year award
Osimhen enjoyed a stellar campaign for Napoli, winning the Serie A top scorer award and helping end Napoli’s long wait for a Scudetto title.
)
23:18 - 11.12.2023
Victor Osimhen: The Prince that was promised ends Nigeria's APOTY Long Night
Nigeria's 24-year wait for a CAF Men's Player of the Year winner finally came to an end on Monday night, with Victor Osimhen standing tall as Africa's undisputed best
)
22:20 - 11.12.2023
A stupid mistake — Osimhen defends Napoli at CAF Awards
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has taken the biggest prize at the CAF 2023 Awards and he used the opportunity to clear the air on his relationship with Napoli.
)
22:02 - 11.12.2023
We run the continent - Reactions as Osimhen and Oshoala SWEEP CAFAwards2023 for Nigeria
Nigeria's Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala took home the biggest awards at the CAFAwards2023.
)
21:00 - 11.12.2023
CAFAwards2023: Osimhen beats Hakimi and Salah to become first Nigerian African Best in 24 years
Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has shrugged off competition from Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi to win the African Footballer of the Year Award.
)
22:17 - 10.12.2023
Stanley Nwabali: Jose Peseiro's wild goose chase doomed to fail
With the 2023 AFCON mere weeks away, the Super Eagles coach's sudden interest in appraising Stanley Nwabali calls both his judgement and wisdom into grave question
)
17:45 - 10.12.2023
Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala: The Most Influential Nigerian Footballers of 2023
Osimhen and Oshoala's impact on and off the field in 2023 has positioned them as the most influential male and female Nigerian footballers of the year respectively.
)
13:27 - 10.12.2023
Super Eagles-ignored Kingdom Osayi celebrates Player of the Month award with another clean sheet
Kingdom Osayi has been rewarded for his fantastic form and clean sheet record at NPFl club Doma United.
)
15:09 - 09.12.2023
Barcelona target Super Eagles star for crucial position
Barcelona are reportedly eyeing Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi for a free agent move.
)
20:43 - 08.12.2023
Ex-Super Eagles star Osaze Odemwingie reveals why he stopped playing for Nigeria
Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie explains why the 2014 World Cup clash against France was his last match for Nigeria.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)