It’s no longer news that Federation of International Football Association FIFA, nominated Super Eagles Victor Osimhen for the Best Men’s Player of the year award.
Last week FIFA nominated twelve exceptional players for the 2023 Best Player award. And Victor who helped Napoli win its first ever Scudetto title in more than three decades was nominated.
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Osimhen’s nomination is the first time a Nigerian will be nominated for the award since 1999. Last season the Nigerian finished as Italian Serie A highest goalscorer, becoming the first African to achieve such feat.
Also, he was voted as Italian Serie A best striker, and the best international player fro the 2022/2023 season. Earlier this year, Victor saw off competition from Barca’s Ansu Fati, Jude Bellingham and other players to win the Globe Soccer award.
Interestingly, FIFA has opened up links so that voting can start. And the voting can be done in four categories; by fans, national team coaches, national team captains and 300 journalists from member states.
However, some European football reporters and analysts, are of the opinion that fans voting category is favouring some nominated players. And at the same not favouring some players.
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According to a Norwegian journalist Martin Johan, it’s almost impossible for another player to get a vote from Nigeria since Victor is from there. He opined because, votes by fans is borne out of emotion, it impossible for Victor to be beaten because of his huge sympathisers.
Victor Osimhen will be unjustly favoured by emotional fans
“Fans voting has always been borne out of emotions and numbers. Osimhen for instance is from Nigeria, how do you beat them in an online contest?” Martin posted on Instagram.
In a related development, French Journalist Lauren Gills argued that Osimhen capitalize on the huge population of Nigeria, and African continent. And his argument is based on the fact, that Victor is the only player of African extraction nominated for the covetous prize.
“The voting by fans is for players to with high social media followers. Look at Osimhen for instance. He has the entire African continent behind him from the fans votes. Then national team captains and some African coaches. That’s an unfair advantage if you ask me,” Gills retorted.
The full list of nominees are the following:
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- Julian Alvarez(Argentina)
- Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
- Ilkay Gundogan (Germany)
- Erling Haaland (Norway)
- Rodri(Spain)
- Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
- Kylian Mbappe (France)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
- Declan Rice (England)
- Bernardo Silva (Portugal)
