-Nigeria legend Emmanuel Amuneke believes Osimhen merits the African Footballer of the Year award and says more should be expected from the Super Eagles striker.
The 24-year-old goal-machine was the topa-ranked African striker in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, finishing 8th, thanks to an outstanding season in the Serie A in which he scored 26 Serie A goals to help Napoli win their first Italian title in 33 years.
“There is no doubt about his character, in terms of his desire and zeal to achieve something, succeed and win,” Amuneke, who coached Osimhen while he was Nigeria’s Under-17 coach, told BBC Sport Africa.
“As a coach at youth level, that was something that made me admire him. That is one of the best [attributes] for a player to make it to the highest stage.
Osimhen has also been lethal for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, finishing top scorer in qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with 10 goals.
The former Lille striker is on the 30-man list for the CAF Player of the Year award alongside Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, Manchester United and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi.
“We hope he wins the Caf award with what he has done for his club and the national team,” said Amuneke, who was himself named the African player of the year in 1994.
“Regardless of not playing at the World Cup [held in Qatar last year], he has been able to establish himself as a worthy contender.”
