Osimhen, the top scorer in the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, is set to contend with football stars including Egypt’s Mohammed Salah, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez for the coveted accolade.

The Nigerian striker played a pivotal role in Napoli’s Scudetto triumph, securing the Golden Boot with an impressive tally of 26 goals.

Reigning African women’s player of the year, Oshoala, faces competition from South Africa’s Thembi Klagtlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda in her quest for the top prize.

Oshoala’s remarkable performance included scoring 21 goals in 28 games to lead FC Barcelona to the 2022/23 Spanish League title.

She also emerged as the top scorer for the Spanish club with 27 goals across all competitions and played a crucial role in Barcelona’s retention of the domestic title and triumph in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Additionally, Oshoala made history at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup by becoming the first Nigerian and the first female African player to score at three different editions of the tournament.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.

Oshoala, 26, was introduced in the 71st minute as Barcelona defeated Chelsea in the final of the 2020-21 edition.

Lluis Cortes’ women had taken a first-minute lead at the Gamla Ullevi after Melanie Leupolz turned the ball into her own net.

Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen also fired past goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger to end Chelsea coach Emma Hayes’ dreams.

Barcelona, wanting more goals, then introduced Oshoala for Spanish midfielder Jennifer Hermoso in the 71st minute.

Oshoala scored the fifth goal in the closing stages of the game, but it was ruled offside. Before the game in Gothenburg, the four-time African Women’s Player of the Year claimed that Barca had learned from their final defeat to Lyon in 2019.

The 2019 CAF Awards ceremony was held at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Egypt, with top football dignitaries in attendance.

Asisat Oshoala, the Super Falcons captain also won the African Women’s Player of the Year crown at the awards ceremony, making her fourth time. She beat South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout

Oshoala spent the second half of the 2018-19 season on loan with Barcelona Ladies from Dalian Quanjian. The Nigeria international scored eight goals in 11 games in all competitions for the Blaugrana.