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Nigerian footballers Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been named as finalists for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in their respective categories.
Both Osimhen and Oshoala had outstanding performances for their clubs and national teams throughout the year.
Osimhen, who is currently the leading scorer in the African Cup of Nations qualifying series with seven goals, has made history by becoming the first Nigerian male footballer to be shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or award in the past 24 years.
The last Nigerian player to be nominated for the award was Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
The 24-year-old striker achieved a significant feat by becoming the first African player to be crowned Capocannoniere, earning the title for the highest goal scorer in the Serie A. Playing for Napoli, he scored 26 Serie A goals and a total of 31 goals in 39 games across all competitions.
As for Asisat Oshoala, this marks her second consecutive nomination for the Ballon d’Or award.
She had an exceptional season with Barcelona Femeni, where she played a vital role in winning the Women’s Champions League.
Oshoala made history last year when she became the first African woman to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or. This year, she is also the only African player named in the women’s category.
The 28-year-old forward was the top scorer for Barcelona Femeni last season, scoring 26 goals in all competitions, including 21 league goals and five goals in the Women’s Champions League.
Her remarkable performances contributed significantly to Barcelona Femeni’s league title win and their success in the Women’s Champions League.
The highly anticipated ceremony is scheduled to take place in Paris on October 30th this year.
The nominations of Osimhen and Oshoala for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award are a testament to their exceptional talent and the recognition they have earned on the international stage.
Nigerian football fans will eagerly await the outcome of the awards ceremony in October.
