The Nigeria Football Federation NFF has congratulated Nigerian international forwards Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala on their nominations for this year’s Ballon d’Or awards.
During the 2022-23 season, Osimhen scored an impressive 26 goals in Serie A league matches which played a pivotal role in Napoli clinching the Italian Scudetto after a 33-year wait. He also added five goals in the UEFA Champions League in which the Partenopei made it to the semi-final and emerged top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with seven goals for the Super Eagles.
The 24-year-old’s nomination places him in competition with top footballers such as Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Kevin De Bruyne, among others.
“We are indeed very proud of the nominations of our players Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala for the Ballon d’Or. It is the first time that players from the same country are nominated for both male and female categories, and this makes us proud. It also underscores the stellar careers that both players have at the moment, and we pray that God will continue to take them from glory to glory.
“These nominations will also, no doubt, encourage other Nigerian players everywhere to be pivotal for their Clubs and also for the National Team anytime they are on the international road,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said.
Oshoala has earned her nomination in the female category due to her exceptional contributions to the Super Falcons and Barcelona Femeni.
In the 2021-22 season, she emerged as the top scorer, amassing 20 goals and providing four assists in 19 Spanish Liga F appearances.
In the 2022-23 season, Oshoala continued her impressive form, tallying 21 goals and three assists in 28 domestic league appearances and adding five goals in all nine Women’s Champions League matches, which her team went on to win.
Despite facing challenges with match fitness issues, she made a significant impact at the Women’s World Cup by scoring a crucial goal against the Australian Matildas, securing victory for Randy Waldrum’s team.
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