The Nigerian duo formed by Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or 2023.
This is notably the first time that two Nigerian players have been nominated for this prestigious award in the same year.
Osimhen enjoyed a phenomenal season Naples last time; propelling the Naples-based club to its first Serie A title in over 30 years.
The Nigerian finished as Italy’s top scorer that season with 26 goals, a feat no African player has ever achieved and has started the new season brightly too with three goals in three matches.
Osimhen’s heroics are not just with his club, as he has also been doing great things in the green and white colors of Nigeria, a feat that earned him a national honor bestowed on him by the government led by Muhammadu Buhari.
Osimhen has been a key player for the Super Eagles, helping them qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with one game to spare. He is also the top scorer in the qualifying series; highlighting the fundamental role of him in the campaign.
The other 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees include Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Robert Lewandowski, Erling Halland, Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka, among others.
female category
Oshoala, meanwhile, has been in equally impressive form with Barcelona Femeni, helping them to a historic treble last season, the climax of which was the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The 28-year-old, who scored 21 goals in 28 games for Barcelona last season, has also been fantastic for the national team, the Super Falcons.
Oshoala, despite being plagued with injuries, helped the Super Falcons reach the last 16 at the last World Cup held in New Zealand and Australia.
Women’s World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati, the competition’s Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa and Colombian teenager Linda Caicedo are all on the nomination list with Oshoala.
Full list of men’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
André Onana – Manchester United/Cameroon
Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City/Croatia
Karim Benzema – Al Ittihad
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich/Germany
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool/Egypt
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
Randal Kolo Muani – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City/Belgium
Bernardo Silva – Manchester City/Portugal
Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Naples/Georgia
Ruben Dias – Manchester City/Portugal
Nicolo Barella – Inter Milan/Italy
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Yassine Bounou – Al Hilal/Morocco
Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal/Norway
Julian Alvarez – Manchester City/Argentina
Ilkay Gundogan – Barcelona/Germany
Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid/Brazil
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Rodri – Manchester City/Spain
Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan/Argentina
Antoine Griezmann – Atlético de Madrid/France
Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona/Poland
Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kim Min-jae – Naples/South Korea
Victor Osimhen – Naples/Nigeria
Luka Modric – Real Madrid/Croatia
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England