President Bola Tinubu and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have congratulated Nigeria’s Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, on winning the CAF 2023 Men’s Player of the Year award.
Tinubu also celebrated the remarkable achievements of Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who clinched the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year for the sixth time, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who was awarded the Woman Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as the Super Falcons for emerging the Women’s National Team of the Year.
This commendation was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Tuesday.
He commended the players for their outstanding performances on both national and international stages, describing them as sources of pride to the nation and an inspiration for aspiring footballers across the continent.
In his words: ”Watching the great ambassadors of Nigeria stand atop the podium as the African Footballers of the Year, in the men and women categories, on Monday night in Marrakesh, Morocco, has strengthened our belief that with hard work, perseverance, and the help of God, everything this nation needs for greatness is within us and available to us.
”I commend Victor and Asisat for not forgetting their roots and days of humble beginnings in the game they love so much and for acknowledging the role of indigenous coaches in shaping their careers.
”I join all Nigerian fans in praying that this well-deserved honour will be the beginning of a continued journey filled with success, triumphs, and the fulfillment of all your footballing dreams.”
On the part of Obi, he also celebrated Chiamaka Nnadozie who bagged the 2023 Confederation of African Football Women’s Goalkeeper, and the Nigerian Female football team.
In a series of tweets on his X handle on Tuesday , Obi wrote, ” I like to join all other sports lovers in the country to sincerely congratulate the Nigeria duo of #victorosimhen9 and #AsisatOshoala for emerging African Players of the Year, in the men and women categories respectively this year.
“I also celebrate #Nadoziechiamaka who won the 2023 CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award and our Nigerian female football team, Super Falcons, who won the 2023 CAF award for the National Team of the Year.
“We are all proud of their awards, which bear witness to their innate talents, passions for growth, and determination for success.
“My sincere desire is that every Nigerian youth will have the needed enablement to explore and develop their talents, and skills and live to fulfill their dreams, and by so doing, help to contribute to the development of our nation.”