Five African football stars have been nominated for the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards, with 30 male and 20 female footballers in contention.
The male African nominees include Victor Osimhen, Mohammed Salah, Yassine Bounou, and Andre Onana. Asisat Oshoala is the sole African nominee in the women’s category.
Other prominent contenders for the awards include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Luka Modric, Harry Kane, Vinícius Jr, and 20 others will be contending for this year’s award.
Some other nominees include Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, Ilkay Gundogan, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nicolò Barella, Jude Bellingham, Lautaro Martínez, Kim Min-Jae, and Antoine Griezmanni.
Last year, Nigerian attacker Osimhen won the Globe Soccer Awards’ Emerging Player of the Year award after leading Napoli to their first league title in more than 30 years.
He also ranked eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or honors, the highest-ever finish by a Nigerian player.
The Italian club striker is also a strong favourite to win this year’s African Player of the Year.
In 2022, Victor Osimhen was honored with the Globe Soccer Awards’ Emerging Player of the Year.
As for the women’s category, Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala, who secured a triple victory last season, including the Champions League, will vie for the award alongside Aitana Bonmati and other contenders like Sam Kerr, Alexandra Pop, Olga Carmona, Esther Gonzalez, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon, and Salma Paralluelo.
Pep Guardiola is the leading contender for the coaching Globe Soccer Award, credited for Manchester City’s treble-winning season in the English Premier League.
Competing with him for the prize are Mikel Arteta from Arsenal, Marcel Koller, Lionel Scaloni, Xavi Hernandez, Simone Inzaghi, Luis de la Fuente, and Sarina Wiegmann.
Voting is currently underway for various categories and will continue until December 7, followed by selection by a 30-member jury from the football industry.
The winners will be unveiled on January 19, 2024, during an event.
