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The race for 2023 African Player of the Year is a tight one as many African footballers have been brilliant with their clubs and/or countries since the start of the season.

The five front runners for the 2023 African Player of the Year award are Nigerian and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Cameroonian and Inter Milan Goalkeeper Andre Onana, Morrocan and Sevilla’s Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Algerian and Manchester City Winger Riyard Mahrez and Mohammed Salah.

Sadio Mane won the award in 2022 for the second time, after his incredible season with Liverpool and Senegal, that saw him win the African Cup of Nations, League Cup and FA Cup.

 

Today we look at the Top Five Favorites for the 2023 African Player of the Year award in no particular order.

 

Victor Osimhen( Nigeria and Napoli)

Achievements this season 

2022/2023 Serie A

Individual Achievements 

2022/2023 Serie A top scorer

Stats in all competitions for Napoli

38 Appearances

30 Goals

5 Assists

 

Victor Osimhen has been in fine form for Napoli this season. The striker finished as the top scorer in Serie A this season with 25 Goals. The season also saw him break the record as Africa’s highest goalscorer in Serie A history with 49 Goals, and also Africa’s highest goalscorer in a single Serie A season surpassing Samuel Eto’o. No African player scored more goals than Osimhen in Europe’s Top Five Leagues this season.

 

Osimhen also scored five goals in Napoli’s run to the Semi finals of this Year’s UEFA Champions League. He finished the season with 30 Goals and 5 Assists in 38 Appearances.

 

 

Andre Onana( Cameroon and Inter Milan)

Achievements this season 

2023 Italian Super Cup

2022/2023 Italian Cup

 

2022/2023 UEFA Champions League finals against Manchester City on June 10

 

Individual Achievements 

Most Clean sheets in the Champions League (8*)

Most saves in the Champions League (44*)

 

Stats in all competitions

40 Appearances

19 Clean sheets

 

Andre Onana has been a wall for Inter Milan this season especially in the UEFA Champions League. No Goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets or made more saves than him in the competition this season. He has already won two titles with Inter Milan this season and will be looking to add the third when they face Manchester City in the Champions League finals on June 10. No African Goalkeeper has registered more Clean sheets than Andre Onana in all competitions this season.

 

Yassine Bounou(Morocco and Sevilla)

Achievements this season 

2022/2023 UEFA Europa League

2022 FIFA World Cup Fourth Place

 

Individual Awards

2022/2023 UEFA Europa League Finals Man of the Match

 

Stats for Sevilla in all competitions

36 Appearances

7 Clean sheets

 

Bounou has had a season to remember. He helped Sevilla win the Europa League with two penalty saves in the finals, earning him the man of the match Award. Bounou was also one of the key players behind Morocco’s run for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Semi Finals with his outstanding saves. He registered four clean sheets for Morocco in the World Cup.

 

However, he had a not so good season with Sevilla in the league. He conceded 41 Goals in 25 Appearances as Sevilla finished 10th in La Liga.

 

 

Riyard Mahrez (Algeria and Manchester City)

Achievements this season

2022/2023 Premier League

 

FA Cup Finals against Manchester United on June 3rd

2022/2023 UEFA Champions League finals against Inter Milan on June 10th

 

Stats in all competitions for Manchester City

47 Appearances

15 Goals

13 Assists

 

Riyard Mahrez and Manchester City are on course for their first ever treble. They just need to get the job done against Manchester City in the FA Cup Finals on Saturday and Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League finals on June 10th.

 

Mahrez has already won the 2022/2023 Premier League title with Manchester City this season, the fifth in his career. The 32 Year-old is also the top scorer in the FA Cup this season with Five Goals to his name.

 

 

Mohammed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)

Achievements this season

2022 Community Shield

 

Individual Achievements

2023 Community Shield Man of the Match.

 

Stats in all competitions for Liverpool

51 Appearances

30 Goals

16 Assists

Despite Liverpool finishing trophyless and out of Champions League places this season, Mohammed Salah had a good season. He scored 19 Goals and delivered 12 Assists for Liverpool in the Premier League this season. No African Footballer has had more Goal involvements than Mohamed Salah in Europe’s Top Five Leagues. The 30 Year-old also scored 8 Goals in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League Quarter finals, with only Erling Haaland (12) having more in the the Competition. Salah has won the African Player of the year award two times in his career(2017 and 2018), and also finished runner up twice(2019 and 2022).