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Pulse Sports highlights the players who are tipped to be crowned Africa’s finest following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
Following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, the conversation has shifted to the identity of players who are set to be crowned with various individual awards for their sterling performances.
While Lionel Messi and Erling Halaand have been installed as favourites to win the Ballon d’Or Award, the race for the 2022-23 African Footballer of the Year award is equally set to be intriguing.
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17:13 - 12.06.2023
STARS ABROAD Fresh reports link Michael Olunga with a move to Greek heavyweights
The former Gor Mahia forward is coming off an impeccable season where he won the Qatar Stars League Golden Boot.
A number of players have had great seasons, starting with newly-crowed Serie A champion Victor Osimhen, treble winner Riyad Mahrez as well as Europa League champion and World Cup semi-finalist Yassine Bounou of Morocco.
Holder Sadio Mane, who has won the last two, is not in the conversation despite Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga win, as he has had an indifferent season for the Bavarian giants.
So, who are the frontrunners for the African Footballer of the Year Award?
Victor Osimhen
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If there was any doubt that the Super Eagles striker is among the best no.9s in the world then he dispelled it in the just-concluded season.
The lanky Nigerian scored an incredible 26 goals in 30 league games and added four assists as the Azzurri claimed their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Napoli scored 77 goals in the Serie A but it is safe to say they would not have been champions were it not for Osimhen, who also bagged the Golden Boot award, becoming the first African player to achieve the feat.
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16:30 - 12.06.2023
FOOTBALL Everything you need to know as Harambee Stars jet off to Mauritius
Kenya will play against Pakistan and hosts Mauritius in the four nations tournament this week.
The 24-year-old also scored five goals in the Champions League as Napoli reached the quarter-final, making the 2015 CAF Youth Player of the Year the hot favourite to wrestle the crown from Mane.
Riyad Mahrez
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The Algerian winger has not set light on the Premier League and Champions League as he did in 2021-22 but he is surely among those with a chance to claim the crown.
Mahrez won the award in 2016 after leading Leicester City to an unlikely Premier League title but having been part of a Manchester City team that has won the league, FA Cup and Champions League, a second crown is still a possibility.
The 32-year-old ended the season with five Premier League goals but added 10 assists, while he bagged as many goals in the FA Cup and three in the Champions League.
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11:30 - 12.06.2023
FOOTBALL: Odada believes Harambee Stars perform well in Mauritius
Kenya will play Pakistan on Wednesday before facing Mauritius on Sunday.
Andre Onana
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The Cameroon goalkeeper is still being praised for his incredible performance in last Saturday’s Champions League final despite his club, Inter Milan losing 1-0 to Manchester City.
Onana’s footwork was a joy to watch as he displayed the true qualities of a sweeper keeper and he is already attracting the interest of Premier League side Chelsea.
He kept eight clean sheets in 12 matches for Inter in the Champions League while also winning the Coppa Italia with the Nerazzurri, who finished third in the Serie A.
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08:00 - 12.06.2023
FKFPL: ‘Kasarani sio kisirani!’ Gor Mahia tactician declares
The Gor Mahia head coach ran out of superlatives on the state of the pitch at Kasarani following their 2-0 win over Ulinzi Stars last Sunday.
Yassine Bounou
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Another goalkeeper on the list, Morocco shot stopper Yassine Bounou, or simply Bono, won the hearts of many across the globe for his incredible performance at the 2022 World Cup when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semi-final at the global tournament.
Bono kept four clean sheets in seven matches and also saved penalties in the shootout wins against Spain and Portugal in the Last 16 and quarter-final respectively.
While Sevilla had a poor season in LALIGA, Bono was still the hero as he saved twice in the post-match shootout when his club claimed a seventh Europa League title after beating AS Roma in the final.
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06:00 - 12.06.2023
STARS ABROAD: Kenyan defender Daniel Anyembe to play in UEFA Conference League next season with Viborg FF
Thee 24-year-old Danish-born defender made his debut for Harambee Stars against Iran in March.
Mohamed Salah
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Two-time winner Mohamed Salah of Egypt is not currently in the conversation but it will not be a surprise if he makes at least the podium.
The Liverpool forward bagged 19 goals, while adding 12 assists in the Premier League as the Reds finished a disappointing fifth, while he came second in the Champions League top scorer’s charts after netting eight times, four behind Haaland.
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