FULL LIST: Final shortlist for 2023 CAF Player Of The Year includes Osimhen

The only player from Nigeria to join the squad is the forward for Napoli, who will be looking to finish off a fantastic year in which he won the Italian Scuddeto and top scorer award.

According to a statement from the football association, Victor Osimhen made the final roster for the 2023 CAF Best Player award.

The men’s categories shortlists for the 2023 CAF Awards have been announced by CAF, the African football governing body said on Friday.

The only Nigerian to make the roster, the Napoli forward is the clear frontrunner and will be looking to finish off a fantastic season that saw him win the league’s best scorer award and the Italian Scuddeto.

Osimhen placed seventh in the 2023 Ballon d’Or competition, which took place in Paris, France, a few weeks ago.

Apart from the Nigerian, other elite players that made the final 10 CAF award nominees were, among others, Senegalese striker Sadio Mane, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.

According to CAF, a voting panel made up of members of the CAF Technical Committee, media experts, head coaches, and captains of member associations and clubs competing in the Interclub competitions’ group stages will choose the final winner in each category.

The Awards Gala is scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, December 11, 2023.

Final Shortlist For 2023 CAF Best Player Prize

1. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Al Ahli)
2. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, SSC Napoli)
3. Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon, Besiktas)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
6. Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco, Manchester United)
7. Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
8. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco, Sevilla)
9. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, SSC Napoli)
10. Sadio Mane (Senegal, Al Nassr)