Former Arsenal and Togolese forward, Emmanuel Adebayor has backed Nigerian and one of the finest strikers currently in Europe for the Africa Best Player Award for 2023.

Osimhen, who was voted Serie The best striker and made the 2022-23 squad sheet, scored 26 goals with 5 assists for the Azzurri – a mammoth contribution that aided Napoli to their first title after over three decades.

Adebayor speaking to BBC Sport:

“It’s very simple, we have seen the season and for me if you ask me who deserves the 2023 African Player of the Year award, it’s Osimhen, because of what he has done with Napoli, scoring in all the biggest games in Italy and also winning the Scudetto.

“He has done quite well, who is there (to challenge Osimhen) Sadio Mané was injured and had a difficult season, Mohamed Salah had one of his worst seasons in his career, there’s the guy from Cameroon, Zambo Anguissa but the star player in Napoli is Osimhen. If you ask me to vote and I am given 10 votes I will give 12 to Osimhen for the 2023 African Player of the Year,” the former Real Madrid man said.”

Despite missing out in the last AFCON Tournament and FIFA World Cup, Osimhen remains one of the favorites along with his teammate Zambo Anguissa, Manchester City forward Riyad Marhez, PSG defender Hakim Ziyech and Sevilla’s forward En Nesyri.

In 2013 after Nigeria beat Zambia to the AFCON, Mikel Obi came close to the award but unfortunately finished as a runner-up to Yaya Toure who had the most votes 373 ahead of Obi who recorded 265.

In 2014 Vincent Enyeama earned the 3rd podium finishing below Yaya Toure and Pierre Emrick Aubameyang.

The most recent Nigerian player to have won the most prestigious individual award in Africa remains Kanu Nwankwo.

The last time a Nigerian won the award was Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.