Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala, both Nigerians, have been nominated for the 2023 Globe Soccer best men and women player honors.
The nominations for the awards were announced by the organizers on Tuesday, with the Napoli star competing against 29 others for the honor.
Nicol Barella, Jude Bellingham, Karim Benzema, Yassine Bounou, Antoine Griezmann, Ilkay Gundogan, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Robert Lewandowski are the other men’s award nominees.
Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Kim Min-Jae, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Vincius Jr. are among contenders for the award’s men’s best player.
The Nigerian forward, who helped Napoli to their first league win in almost 30 years, was named Emerging Player of the Year at the Globe Soccer Awards last year.
Osimhen finished ninth in the Ballon d’Or awards in 2023, the highest-ever finish by a Nigerian player.
He is also a strong contender for this year’s African Player of the Year award, which will be presented next year.
Oshoala, who won a triple with Barcelona last season, including the Champions League, will compete against teammate Aitana Bonmati, among others, in the women’s division.
Sam Kerr, Alexandra Pop, Olga Carmona, Esther Gonzalez, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon, and Salma Paralluelo are among the other nominees.
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola leads the list of nominations in the coaching category and is the favorite to win the award following a treble-winning season with the English Premier League club last season.
However, he will face Mikel Arteta, Lionel Scaloni, Carlo Ancelotti, Xavi Hernandez, Simone Inzaghi, Luis de la Fuente, Jonatan Giraldez, Marcel Koller, and Sarina Wiegmann of Arsenal.
Online voting for the various categories has already begun and will continue until December 7th. Following that, the awards will be chosen by a 30-member football industry jury.
The winners of the Globe Soccer Awards will be announced at an event on January 19, 2024.
