Osimhen also named former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star, Didier Drogba as his role model
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has attributed his success at the CAF Awards in Morocco, on Monday night to the role Super Eagles legend and former Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amunike played in his career
The Napoli striker made this known while receiving the African Men’s ‘Footballer of the Year’ award at the CAF’s gala night.
TheNiche had earlier reported that Osimhen broke a 24-year jinx to become the first Nigerian player to win the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award since Nwankwo Kanu last won it in 1999.
He saw off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah to clinch the prize.
Osimhen had a stellar 2022/23 season with Serie A club, Napoli guiding the Partenopei to their first title in 33 years.
He contributed 26 goals in 32 league appearances last season and netted five goals in six appearances for the Naples club in the UEFA Champions League.
ALSO READ: Osimhen wins 2023 CAF ‘Footballer Of The Year’ award
He was also the top scorer in the qualification race for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with 10 goals.
Speaking while collecting the award, Osimhen said he wouldn’t have turned out to be the successful football player he is today without Amunike.
He said: “I want to appreciate Emmanuel Amunike, without him, I will not be here.”
He went on to tell the audience at the event who he looked up to while growing up.
“Drogba is my role model. I love you all,” the 24-year-old Nigerian international added.
Osimhen’s breakthrough moment came in 2015, when he led the Nigerian U-17 team to victory in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he was awarded the Golden Boot and the Silver Ball.
Amunike was the coach of the victorious Nigerian U-17 team.