Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has opened up on his recent nomination for the 2022/2023 Ballon d’Or award NPFLUpdates.com reports.
Osimhen was recently nominated for the 2022/2/23 Ballon d’Or award. And this is as a result of his outstanding performances for Napoli last season. Because last season, Osimhen emerged as the Italian Serie A highest goalscorer with over twenty goals.
Also, he helped Napoli to it first Scudetto title in more than three decades; and also a UEFA Champions League quarter-finals finish. Scoring five goals for Napoli forward, before they were knocked out by league rivals AC Milan.
Interestingly, Osimhen is the first Nigerian to be nominated for the annual award since the turn of the millennium. In the past, Super Eagles players like Sunday Oliseh, Kanu Nwankwo have been nominated for the awards. But no Nigerian, has been able to win the golden ball.
And to a larger extent only Liberian forward George Weah is a player of African extraction to have won the award.
Speaking about the nomination Osimhen admitted it’s a dream come true for him to be recognised for nomination.
“I must say it is a dream come true for me. It is a big honour for me and my family,” Osimhen told reporters in Uyo, and was quoted by CompleteSports Nigeria.
Also read: Victor Osimhen Should Go To Al Hilal, This Type Of Money Don’t Come Twice – Ogenyi Onazi
Victor Osimhen opens up on Ballon d’Or nomination
“I have worked so hard for a moment like this and I must say it is a reward for all the years of hard work and dedication.”
Speaking further the father of one said the nomination can only be a motivation for him to do more and improve his game.
“This can only spur me to do better and get more recognition,” he stated.
In a related development, Osimhen hinted that he is reach to pair up with any player in the Super Eagles’ attacking department.
Nigeria will come up against Sao Tome and Principe on Sunday in a dead-rubber AFCON qualifier fixture. And the team boasts of super talented forwards like Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Gift Orban.
Taiwo Awoniyi has scored consecutively in his last seven English Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest. And Victor Boniface is the current highest goalscorer in the German Bundesliga, scoring four goals in three appearances for Bayer Leverkusen. Recently he won the Rookie Of The Month award in the Bundesliga, beating off competition from Atubolu.
Also, an in-form Gift Orban has been scoring for fun in the Belgium Pro League, having two goals in four games for KAA Gent. Never forgetting that Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho is in the fray, and also scoring goals in the EFL championship.
Speculations spread that Osimhen may have to battle the other strikers for a spot in the attack. But the former Olympique Lille forward said he’s free to play in any position, as long as the team is benefiting.
“For me, I don’t mind who I pair with because we’ve got amazing strikers. (Taiwo) Awoniyi is there, (Victor) Boniface is there, (Gift) Orban also, (Kelechi) Iheanacho is there also,” he said to the media in Uyo.
Also read: Victor Osimhen Ahead Of Boniface, Gift In Attack – Ugbade
“So, whosoever the coach decides to pair with me or to play with any striker, I’m cool with it. For me, the team is the most important thing, before any individual player.
Speaking further Osimhen admitted he “can play 4-4-2, I can play any position. For me, as long as it’s a forward [role], I can pair with anyone. So we are really looking forward to it.”
