Fatshimetrie is an online platform that highlights African football talents and honours Nigerian players who have won the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the Year award. The award symbolises the excellence, passion and dedication of African players who excel on the football pitch.
Last year, Ademoola Lookman and Victor Boniface were recurring names in discussions around this coveted award, thanks to their outstanding performances throughout the past year. Ademoola Lookman shone at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals to help Nigeria reach the final. Furthermore, he became the first player to score a hat-trick in a single Europa League final since Pierino Prati in 1969, helping Atalanta win the 2024 title.
His feat earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination, becoming the first current Atalanta player to be nominated for the prestigious global award. On the other hand, Victor Boniface was a mainstay of Bayer Leverkusen’s team that won the Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season, remaining undefeated throughout the season in the league. As the team’s top scorer in the league with 14 goals and 9 assists, Boniface showed all his talent and determination on the pitch.
Over the years, many Nigerian footballers have made history in African football and won this famous CAF Player of the Year award. Among these legends are names like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Nwankwo Kanu and recently Victor Osimhen.
Rashidi Yekini, known for his powerful shots and acrobatic goals, was the first Nigerian to win the CAF Player of the Year award in 1993. He was also the top scorer at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria won the bronze medal.
Emmanuel Amuneke followed in Yekini’s footsteps by winning the award in 1994, after helping Nigeria win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in the same year. He made history by scoring both goals in the final against Zambia.
Victor Ikpeba was awarded the prize in 1997 for his outstanding performances in Ligue 1 with AS Monaco, scoring 26 goals in the season the club won the league and cup double.
Nwankwo Kanu, meanwhile, is the only player to have won the award twice, in 1996 and 1999. His contribution to the 1996 Olympic gold medal, as well as his UEFA Champions League successes with Ajax and the Premier League with Arsenal, were memorable.
Finally, Victor Osimhen ended a 24-year streak without a Nigerian victory by winning the award in 2023. His leadership on the pitch and his 26 goals in Serie A with Napoli, which helped the club win the league title, made him a dominant figure in the world of football.
These Nigerian footballers have left an indelible mark on African football and have nurtured the talent and determination needed to carry the colours of Nigeria high on the international stage. Their success and dedication are an inspiration to future generations of African players, and their legacy will live on in the history of football.