A brand new period of Nigerian excellence appears to have ignited the African soccer scene. Ademola Lookman’s triumph because the 2024 CAF Participant of the Yr, scorching on the heels of Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023, has seen elevated pleasure and nationwide pleasure within the green-white-green.
These consecutive wins ended a 16-year drought and raised the query: what woke up the sleeping giants? Is there one thing magical in regards to the Italian leagues the place Lookman and Osimhen honed their expertise? Or is that this a mere coincidence, a fleeting second of brilliance?
Regardless of the reply, one factor is for certain: Nigerian footballers are again on the world stage once more. The world watches on for the following chapter on this manufacturing line.
Whereas it might appear to be a coincidence, the very fact each Osimhen and Lookman turned the completed articles in Italy (Napoli and Atalanta, respectively) earlier than their CAF award wins actually hints at a connection.
Maybe the Italian league’s emphasis on tactical self-discipline, technical ability, and physicality has supplied the proper setting for Nigerian gamers to develop and showcase their abilities on the worldwide stage.
Sports activities content material creator Tobi Adepoju makes a compelling argument about Nigerian footballers’ current resurgence within the CAF Participant of the Yr award. He believes components like taking part in for smaller European golf equipment, a scarcity of main titles, and the absence of AFCON glory had beforehand hindered Nigerian gamers from successful the celebrated award.
Nonetheless, Victor Osimhen’s unbelievable efficiency in 2023 modified all the pieces. By main Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, Osimhen not solely captured the hearts of followers but in addition solidified his place in soccer historical past.
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Adepoju highlights the importance of Napoli’s historic win, emphasising that the membership, an enormous in Italian soccer with a legacy constructed by legends like Diego Maradona, hadn’t skilled such success in many years. Osimhen’s pivotal function in ending this drought and bringing the Scudetto again to Naples generated immense admiration and recognition, in the end contributing to his CAF Participant of the Yr award.
“I really feel like the rationale we didn’t win or dominate lately is that the majority of our gamers didn’t play for high golf equipment,” mentioned Adepoju.
“They weren’t successful titles in Europe. They weren’t successful league titles. After which even AFCON, the final time we gained was in 2013.”
Adepoju added that even when Nigeria gained the AFCON or did nicely in qualifiers for the AFCON and the World Cup, there have been no standout gamers.
He additionally added that he likes how Lookman is taking part in this season, and believes he’s in line for a repeat. “I like the way in which Lookman goes this season. It’ll even be very attention-grabbing if he continues this fashion and if Atalanta win the league title and in addition do nicely in Europe, and possibly helps Nigeria overturn the woeful begin within the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.”
1993
Rashidi Yekini
1994
Emmanuel Amunike
1996
Nwankwo Kanu
1997
Victor Ikpeba
2023
Victor Osimhen
2024
Ademola Lookman
Nigeria is the one nation with back-to-back CAF POTY awards with totally different gamers.
Traditionally, Nigerian gamers have had a restricted presence in Italy’s Serie A. Nonetheless, the current successes of Osimhen and Lookman sign a constructive shift, highlighting the rising influence of Nigerian expertise in certainly one of Europe’s high soccer leagues.
Cece Omorogbe, sports activities anchor and producer for Channels Tv, concurred with most of Adepoju’s postulations however added that Mohamed Salah appears primed to win the 2025 award going by the Egyptian’s kind within the first three months of the 2024/25 season.
“We by no means had distinctive gamers because the days of Nwankwo Kanu, whereas international locations like Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire boasted the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, and Yaya Toure, who performed for glamour groups like Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester Metropolis and gained league and Champions League titles. On the peak of the POTY drought, a lot of our gamers performed for less-glamorous golf equipment, they usually weren’t successful titles, Ms Omorogbe added.
Eto’o gained it thrice consecutively: 2003, 2004, and 2005, whereas Toure gained it 4 occasions consecutively between 2011 and 2014.
The consolidated CAF POTY award was first given in 1992 to Ghana’s Abedi Pele. The primary Nigerian to bag the accolade was the late Rashidi Yekini in 1993. Emmanuel Amuneke gained in 1994, whereas Nwankwo Kanu gained in 1996 and 1999. Victor Ikpeba gained it in 1997, after which the drought kicked in.
There have been 16 barren years earlier than the accolade returned to Nigeria with Osimhen in 2023. Trying on the Nigerian winners since 1991, a pattern is obvious. When a Nigerian wins the CAF POTY, there may be each chance that one other Nigerian will step ahead within the coming 12 months or two seasons later.
Serving to to win a serious title is a serious prerequisite for winners. That’s the reason there was a furore over the 2024 Ballon d’Or snub of Vinicius Junior for Rodri. The reason was easy: Rodri gained the Euros and the league. In distinction, Vinicius gained the Champions League and La Liga, however he didn’t hit the heights for Brazil, as they failed woefully on the Copa America event.
Lookman’s three targets had been essential for the Tremendous Eagles making it into the AFCON remaining, and his three targets in a serious European soccer event (Europa League) remaining burnished his credentials.
Many Nigerian footballers in Europe discover themselves trapped in obscurity, taking part in for small golf equipment with restricted alternatives for glory. These unsung heroes, regardless of their dedication and ability, are sometimes ignored and excluded from the dialog about Africa’s most prestigious particular person award.
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Their potential stays untapped, their achievements unrecognised, just because they lack the platform.
That’s the truth, and proper now, all indicators level in the direction of Salah for the 2025 award. If the Egyptian leads Liverpool to success within the EPL and Europe, there can be little question of the winner come December 2025.
Regardless of the scenario, Nigerian followers are eagerly anticipating who would be the subsequent star to emerge and declare the following CAF Participant of the Yr award. Upcoming abilities like Victor Boniface, who gained the Bundesliga unbeaten with Bayer Leverkusen final season, level to an thrilling new period of Nigerian soccer prominence. Nonetheless, they need to hold serving to their golf equipment and the Tremendous Eagles to win titles.
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