Ahead of Nigeria’s second group game against Ivory Coast, Osimhen reveals that securing the AFCON trophy would rank among the best moments of his life, surpassing even his successful stint with Napoli.

Despite having already made history with Napoli and winning individual accolades, Osimhen acknowledges the significance of achieving success on the international stage.

The striker, who led Napoli to their first Scudetto since 1990, emphasizes that winning AFCON would be a pinnacle in his career.

Osimhen, accustomed to the pressure surrounding him, confidently states, “I am the kind of person who doesn’t fold under pressure.”

He attributes his success to aiming high throughout his life and expresses eagerness to contribute to the Super Eagles’ triumph.

Having recently secured the African Player of the Year award, Osimhen reflects on the achievement as a dream come true, emphasizing the hard work, sweat, and tears he invested.

He looks forward to leading the Super Eagles, packed with attacking talent, to their first AFCON crown since 2013 and joining the ranks of Nigerian football greats like Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha.

It’s the first time one country will produce winners of both awards.

Osimhen was named the winner of the CAF Player of The Year Award, becoming the first Nigerian to win the award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, just as Oshoala claimed a record-extending sixth Women’s Player of The Year as the most successful women’s player in Africa.

Osimhen and Oshoala’s triumphs capped a brilliant night for Nigeria after Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie won the women’s Goalkeeper of The Year, while the Falcons were also named the Women’s Team of The Year.

The only upset for Nigeria on the night was Super Falcons Deborah Abiodun losing the Women’s Young Player of The Year award to Morocco and Lille defender Nesryne El Chad. Metz and Sengela’s Lamine Camara won the men’s category.

The honours were decided based on votes by media representatives, coaches and captains of national teams.

After reclaiming the CAF Women’s Champions League for their second title in the three years of the competition, Mamelodi Sundowns were named the Women’s Club of The Year, while Al Ahly also won the men’s category as a reward for winning a record-extending 11th CAF Champions League title in June.

Super Falcons captain, Onome Ebi, presented the Inter Club Player of The Year award to AS FAR’s Fatima Tagnaut.

The tension in the room was eased with a performance by Uganda sensational dancers, Ghetto Kids, but the pressure soon returned with the announcement of Nigeria as the Women’s National Team of The Year, ahead of WAFCON winners South Africa and Morocco. The award was not unconnected to the Super Falcons sensational run at the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The room became more lively as Morocco was also named the winners of the men’s National Team of The Year for being the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup at the last edition in Qatar 2022.

Al Ahly’s Mahmoud Abdelmenem’s goal against Al Hilal was voted by the fans as the Goal of The Year.

Super Falcons goalkeeping legend Precious Dede handed the Goalkeeper of The Year (Women) award to Falcons and Paris FC safe hands Chiamaka Nnadozie. She won ahead of Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Morocco’s Yassine Bounou won the men’s category for his exploits with Morocco at the last World Cup as well as his club Sevilla.

But surprisingly, Nnadozie was not among CAF’s Women’s XI as three Super Falcons players — Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala — made the team. In the men’s team, Victor Osimehn, the only Nigerian, joined Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in a three-man attack.

South Africa’s women’s national team coach Desiree Ellis retained her title as the women’s Coach of The Year while Walid Regragui, who led Morocco to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar won the men’s category.

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.

Osimhen, who has two years left on his contract at Napoli, had demanded a salary of €7m annually to extend his current deal with the Italian champions, who are keen to tie him down to a new deal amidst interests from some of Europe’s top clubs.

The new proposed deal, it was gathered, will include a release clause worth £170m for the Nigerian striker.

The 24-year-old steered the Partenopei to their first title in 33 years scoring 26 goals in 32 games.

“Napoli is in advanced talks to extend his (Osimhen) contract until 2027 with an increase in salary to €6.5m plus €1m as bonuses,” Skysports revealed on Monday.

Rudi Garcia, Napoli’s new manager, confirmed that Osimhen would remain at the club ahead of the new season.

“Of course, I have spoken to Osimhen who wants to stay here to make another great season with Napoli,” Garcia said.

“I can assure you that he (OsImhen) wants to stay, he is happy to be with us and still wants to do great things.”

Osimhen scored 26 goals plus five assists in 32 league appearances for Napoli and was crucial to the Partenopei winning the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years last season.

He also became the first African to claim the prestigious Capocannoniere award, given to the top scorer in Serie A.

Meanwhile, Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, debunked reports that claimed his client wouldn’t sign a new contract.

Calenda, took to Twitter on Monday to call out a report from Naples-based newspaper Il Mattino as fake news.

“I read in Il Mattino that ‘Calenda has no intention of renewing in the summer and wants to explore all avenues in the market first. Fake news.’”

Osimhen is expected to return to pre-season training on Wednesday.

Napoli, who have already opened talks to extend Osimhen’s contract, are keen on inserting a hefty €200m release clause in the new deal, Get Italy football news stated.

The Nigeria international helped the Partenopei win their first Serie A title in 33 years, and emerged the leading scorer in Italy’s topflight with 26 goals in 32 games in 2022/23.

His impressive form has seen him linked with moves to PSG, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Bayern Munich.

“A solution for the issue could be that Napoli will go close to meeting the wage demand of about €7m and will add a release clause of around €200m in his (Osimhen’s) deal,” the report stated.

“Shared image rights could also bring the parties close. Work is already going on in the right direction for this, with both parties trying to close a deal as quickly as possible.”

Sky Italia reports that a second meeting regarding Osimhen’s renewal has taken place between the club and the Nigerian’s representative, Roberto Calenda.

There is still a lot of gap between the club’s offer and what the player demands, but Napoli know that they can’t lose more assets after the exits of Cristiano Guintoli, Luciano Spalletti and Kim Min-Jae,” Calenda said.

Meanwhile, Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain’s main target if Kylian Mbappe leaves the club this summer, Football-Italia reports.

The 24-year-old Frenchman was set for a switch to Real Madrid last year, only to snub Carlo Ancelotti’s side and agree a new two-year deal at the Parc des Princes with the option of an additional 12 months.

The French champions have been left aghast after receiving a letter from Mbappe confirming that he would not take up the option to extend his contract until 2025, meaning that he could walk out of the door for nothing this time next year.

Despite his refusal to trigger the clause, Mbappe has insisted that he wants to stay put in Paris for the 2023/24 season, and he plans to make a decision on his future next summer.

On the other hand, PSG are reportedly working to sell the France international this summer, and a “shocked” and “disappointed” Al-Khelaifi has ruled out the possibility of Mbappe departing for nothing in 2024.

Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille in 2020 in a deal worth €75m. He has scored 50 goals in 83 Serie A matches adding seven in 11 Champions League appearances.

His current contract at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025.

The 24-year-old registered 31 goals in all competitions last season to help Napoli win the Serie A title for the first time in over three decades.

The Super Eagles forward’s best season as a professional player has seen him scoop awards and break records, with his latest coming from the award ceremony in Ghana.

Osimhen, in a video online, thanked the organisers for the award and promised to make Africa proud.

The video was posted on the official Twitter account of the Ghana Football Awards.

“It is a great privilege for me to win this award, it’s really a great honour. Thank you to those who voted for me and the support. Major thanks to the organisers of Ghana Football Awards for their love and support also, I appreciate you all for this recognition. “I will keep making Africa proud, thank you all and God bless you,” he said.

The former Lille striker scored 31 goals last season in all competitions for Napoli and helped his club to win the title after a 33-year hiatus.

He was also impactful for the Eagles, scoring twice as the Eagles beat Sierra Leone 3-2 to qualify for next year’s AFCON in Ivory Coast.

The striker’s brilliant season also saw him win the top scorer award with 26 goals and also went further to break the former World Player of the Year George Weah’s long-time record as the African with the highest number of goals in Serie A history.

He was awarded the best striker in the league and is also a strong candidate for the best player’s gong at this year’s CAF awards.

Also on the list is in-form forward Victor Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for his club side SSC Napoli helped the Italian giants to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen, who tops the strikers’ list, has also recently been honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government.

He also received a special ball and jersey from the world football-ruling body, FIFA, for his magnificent season.

The Super Eagles are top of their qualification group with nine points out of four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs, who have seven points. Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day 1 of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points. Sao Tome and Principe, who’ll play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are at the bottom with only one point.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone will clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, June 18, as Sierra Leone do not have any stadium in their country approved for international matches.

FULL LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United, Nigeria); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC, Nigeria).

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England), Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands), Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United. Nigeria), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), and Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey).

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England), Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy). Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey).

Osimhen achieved the incredible feat when he netted his first goal – Napoli’s second of the day – against the Little Eagles at the Stadio Alberto Picco.

The Nigeria international has scored great headers during his career, but the goal against Spezia was truly extraordinary and could go down as a contender for the greatest headed goal in football history.

After a goalless first half, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Luciano Spalletti’s side the lead after converting from the penalty spot before Osimhen added the game’s second in the 68th minute with a remarkable effort.

The 24-year-old produced a staggering 71cm leap and reached a height of 8.47ft (2.58m) – higher than the crossbar (8ft) – before heading past Spezia goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski.

And according to Corriere dello Sport (via Tutto Napoli), Osimhen, with that jump, climbed to a height of 2.58 metres – a mark typical of elite NBA stars.

In doing that, Osimhen set a new Italian Serie A record, rubbing off the previous 2.56 metres mark set by Ronaldo for Juventus against Sampdoria in 2019.

It is also a new personal career high for Osimhen whose previous mark was at 2.52m set against Torino at the Diego Maradona Stadium last season.

The world record of 2.62m set by Ugandan defender Bevis Mugabi in the Scottish Championship in January 2021, however, remains intact.

Osimhen has now scored 16 Serie A goals this term, the most he has ever managed in a single season in his career.

The Bavarians see the 23-year-old Nigerian as an ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who is on the verge of departing the Allianz Arena this summer.

Lewandowski, who has a year left on his contract, is keen to join Spanish giants, Barcelona.

Osimhen has been impressive for the Partenopei since his arrival two years ago from Ligue 1 outfit Lille and the Partenopei are aware of the interest from other clubs, but are not ready to let him leave for any amount less than €100m, having signed him for a club and African record fee of €75m.

Premier League clubs Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United are also reportedly interested in the striker who has three years left on his contract with Napoli.

The Nigerian has netted 24 times and provided eight assists in 51 league appearances for the Naples side.

Last season, Osimhen scored 14 goals and recorded five assists in 27 appearances in the Serie A in the concluded 2021/2022 season.

He also netted four goals and one assist in the Europa League for Napoli, who finished third in Serie A last season with 79 points from 38 games.

Meanwhile, former Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has urged Bayern to sign Osimhen should Lewandowski leave, saying he will need little time to adapt to the Bundesliga environment.

“If Bayern let Robert Lewandowski go, Victor would be a good alternative,” Rohr told Sports Bild.

“I think he would prevail in Munich. Since he already has experience in the Bundesliga and speaks a little German, his adjustment period is, of course, shorter than with other players from abroad,” Rohr added.”

The Nigerian striker has been one of the standout performers in Serie A this season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, along with two assists for his teammates.

Manchester United and Arsenal may reportedly have to pay €110million, about N48bn  according to a new report by Calciomercato if they want to secure  the Edo born striker.

Osimhen aged 23 would be good for Arsenal who need a long-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Manchester United is overly reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo, who will turn 38 next season.