Togo legend Emmanuel Adebayor has made his pick for the African player of the year, saying Napoli star Victor Osimhen most deserves it.
Speaking to journalist Mimi Fawaz, Adebayor, who was African player of the year in 2008 while playing for Arsenal, said if he has 10 votes, he will give 12 to Osimhen, adding that it’s a simple decision.
African footballer of the year ⚽️
Emmanuel Adebayor says it’s Victor Osimhen. And if you asked him to vote, if he had 10 votes, he would give him 12 votes.
For Alex Song, he says it’s his countryman Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa???????? Then Osimhen, both won this season’s Scudetto. pic.twitter.com/YkqcdFLm4b
— Mimi Fawaz (@MimosaFawaz) July 16, 2023
Osimhen has had an incredible season with Napoli in the Serie A. The Nigerian star forward finished as highest goalscorer in the league with 26 goals, helping Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990.
“If you ask me who deserves it, I will say Victor Osimhen because of what he’s done – scoring in all the biggest games in Italy and winning the Scudetto,” Adebayor said. “The star player in Napoli and Italy is Osimhen.”
Meanwhile for former Cameroon player, Alex Song, it wasn’t an easy decision. He, however, chose his countryman Frank Anguissa, who also plays for Napoli, ahead of Osimhen.
Song acknowledged Osimhen’s exploits but says Anguissa was also instrumental to Napoli’s success last season and he wants the award to “come back to Cameroon.”
Senegal star Sadio Mane won the award last year. Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure have won the award four times each – the most of any player.