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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.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a CAF Men’s Footballer of the Year Award, and this has prompted comparisons with other legends of the sport, more specifically Jay Jay Okocha, who, despite his tremendous efforts, never received the award.
Osimhen’s triumph
The APOTY gong rewarded an incredible year for the striker, which not many, if any, players from the country had ever attained.
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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.
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09:30 - 13.12.2023
From Abedi Pele to Victor Osimhen: The African Football Legends Crowned Since 1992
Since 1992, CAF has awarded the prestigious African Footballer of the Year title to some of the continent's most talented and iconic players.
As cannot be overemphasised, he led Napoli to their first scudetto triumph since Maradona called Naples home, doing it similarly to D10S by scoring the most goals in the league.
Osimhen picked up the Capoocanoniere alongside the league title in a season where he became the highest-scoring African in the entirety of Serie A’s history, and this, in tandem with being named the best player in the continent by CAF, has earned him high praise from a renowned Nigerian journalist.
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What was said
The reactions to Monday night's victory for Osimhen and Nigeria continue to troop in, but one, in particular, stood out amongst the rest of the glowing comments.
Respected sports journalist Steve Dede, elated by Osimhen’s achievements, stated boldly that the striker had moved past the revered Okocha on the rankings of the greatest-ever players to have donned several shades of green for the Super Eagles.
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“Victor Osimhen just moved past Okocha in the ranking of the greatest-ever Nigerian players,” Steve said on X.
Pressed further by Pulse Sports’ Senior Editor Solace Chukwu, who, on his list of the top ten greatest Nigerian footballers of all time, named Jay Jay at 10th, Steve Dede submitted that he was substituting Okocha on said ranking, with Osimhen making an entry at 10th.
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