Osimhen to battle Bounou, Mahrez for African Footballer of the Year Award
The last time a Nigerian won the African Footballer of the Year Award was in 1999
Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and Manchester City Riyad Mahrez are contending with Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen for the African Footballer of the Year award.
Osimhen won the Italian leagues with Napoli, emerged as the Serie A highest goal scorer, and broke Samuel Eto and George Weah's goals records.
Bounou had an incredible 2022-23 season. Having helped Morocco defy the odds at the World Cup, where the African side became the first team from the continent to reach the semi-finals of the competition, he also played a huge role in Sevilla winning the Europa League.
Despite having lost his undisputed starting spot under Jose Luis Mendilibar, Bono played a big role for Sevilla.
He was on fine form earlier in the season, but with Marko Dmitrovic taking over as first-choice, it meant that he was relegated to cup keeper.
This meant that he was utilised in the later stages of the Europa League, and he was a deciding factor in Sevilla’s victory over Roma in the final, saving one spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.
As per Diario AS, Bono is one of the leading candidates to take home the African Player of the Year award, which has not been won by a goalkeeper since 1991.
Another contender is Mahrez, who helped Manchester City secure a famous treble in 2022-23, so it won’t be easy for the Osimhen to take home the award, which is handed out next month.
