Osimhen - Africa's best at 2023 Ballon d'Or

Napoli's forward Victor Osimhen jubilates with his teammates after scoring the equalizer during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs ACF Fiorentina at ' Diego Armando Maradona' stadium in Naples, Italy, 08 October 2023. EPA/CIRO FUSCO

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Oct 31, 2023. 15:00

Nigerian superstar Victor Osimhen was the best-ranked African player at Monday night’s 2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or.

The SSC Napoli talisman finished eighth place ahead of Egypt captain and Liverpool FC winger Mohamed Salah who finished 11th.

While Al Hilal-Saudi’s Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and Manchester United’s Cameroonian star Andre Onana finished 13th and 23rd respectively.

Osimhen is the first Nigerian player to finish in the top 10 of the prestigious Ballon d’Or having enjoyed a successful 2022/23 season with Napoli and Nigeria.

The 24-year-old inspired Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990 and he also set several records in the Italian top flight while also scooping the Golden Boot award.

He was the top scorer in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers with 10 goals having played a key role in helping Nigeria qualify for the tournament.

Source: X (formely Twitter)