Nigeria’s top footballers, Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala, have been shortlisted for the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards in the Best Men’s and Women’s categories respectively. The Globe Soccer Awards are annual awards that recognise the best players, clubs, agents, and coaches in the world of football. The awards are organised by the European Association of Player’s Agents (EFAA) and Globe Soccer and are held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Osimhen, who plays as a striker for Napoli in Italy, has been in sensational form this season, scoring 31 goals in 39 matches across all competitions and helping his club win the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years. He also finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or voting, becoming the first Nigerian to make the top 10 of the prestigious award. He is one of the 30 players nominated for the Best Men’s Player award, alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Robert Lewandowski.
Oshoala, who plays as a forward for Barcelona in Spain, has also been prolific this season, netting 27 goals and providing nine assists for the Catalan giants, who have dominated the domestic league and won the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the second time in three years. Oshoala became the first African woman to win the Champions League with her triumph in 2021. She is one of the 20 players nominated for the Best Women’s Player award, competing with the likes of Vivianne Miedema, Sam Kerr, Megan Rapinoe, and Wendie Renard.
The winners of the Globe Soccer Awards will be announced at a gala event on January 19, 2024, at the Atlantis The Palm Hotel in Dubai. The event will also feature other categories such as Fans’ Favourite Player, Maradona Award, Best Men’s Club, Best Coach, Best Midfielder, Best Goalkeeper, and Power Horse Emerging Player.
The Globe Soccer Awards are considered as one of the most prestigious awards in the football industry, as they are voted by a jury of experts, including former players, coaches, agents, journalists, and club representatives. The awards have been running since 2010, and have honoured some of the biggest names in the sport, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the Best Men’s Player award six times, and Diego Maradona, who was named the Best Player of the Century in 2012.
Nigeria is the most successful African nation in women’s football, having won the African Cup of Nations 11 times, and qualified for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991. However, the Super Falcons have never advanced beyond the quarter-finals of the global tournament and will face a tough challenge in the 2023 edition, where they are drawn in Group B with co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and debutants Republic of Ireland.
Nigeria’s men’s team, the Super Eagles, have also been regular participants in the FIFA World Cup, having qualified for six of the last seven editions. They have reached the round of 16 three times, but have never made it to the quarter-finals. They are currently leading their qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The nomination of Osimhen and Oshoala for the Globe Soccer Awards is a testament to the talent and potential of Nigerian footballers, who have been making waves in the international scene. The duo will hope to inspire their compatriots to achieve greater heights in the future and bring glory to their country.
Source: BusinessDay NG
