Historic: The First African Country to Have Male & Female Ballon d’Or Nominees in the Same Year

admin September 9, 2023September 9, 2023 0 Comments

Nigeria Makes History with Dual Ballon d’Or Nomination

In a landmark moment for African football, Nigeria has achieved a historic milestone by having both men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or nominees in the same year.

The nominations of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala for the prestigious award have ignited discussions about Nigeria’s growing prominence in the football world and whether it is evolving into the true giant of African football.

Victor Osimhen’s Remarkable Journey:

Victor James Osimhen MFR, born on December 29, 1998, has emerged as a Nigerian football sensation, captivating fans worldwide.

He currently plies his trade as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and represents the Nigeria national team. Osimhen’s football prowess has earned him a reputation as one of the finest strikers globally, renowned for his elite finishing, lightning pace, sheer strength, and athleticism.

During the 2022–23 Italian Serie A season, Osimhen exhibited his exceptional skills in 30 appearances, with an additional 2 as a substitute. His astounding statistics include 55 shots on target out of 105 attempts, resulting in an impressive 26 goals, surpassing the expected goals (xG) at 24.28. Osimhen showcased his versatility by averaging 12 passes per match, achieving a pass completion rate of 71%, and contributing 4 assists. While his commitment and discipline were evident with 4 yellow cards and 0 red cards, Osimhen maintained an outstanding average Infogol Player Rating of 8.57 throughout the season.

In the UEFA Champions League for the 2022–23 season, Osimhen appeared in 5 matches, with one substitute appearance. He fired 8 shots on target out of 14 attempts, registering 5 goals, again exceeding the xG projection at 4.91. Osimhen maintained an average of 8 passes per match, with a pass completion rate of 69% and 0 assists. His discipline remained evident with 1 yellow card and 0 red cards, while his average Infogol Player Rating stood at an impressive 8.04.

Asisat Oshoala’s Stellar Record:

Asisat Oshoala, born on October 9, 1994, is a prominent figure in Nigerian football. She plies her trade as a striker for Spanish Liga F club FC Barcelona and represents the Nigeria women’s national team.

Oshoala is widely regarded as one of the greatest African female footballers of all time and is celebrated globally as one of the finest in her field.

Her accolades include winning the African Women’s Footballer of the Year a remarkable five times.

In the Primera Division Women 2022/2023 season, Oshoala has been in exceptional form, tallying an impressive 21 goals in 28 matches.

She displayed her scoring prowess both at home and away, with 11 goals in home games and 10 on the road.

Her remarkable goals per 90 minutes stand at 1.26, while her total goals and assists (G/A) for this season reached an impressive 24.

Oshoala’s stellar performance places her at the top of the Barcelona W squad’s Top Scorers list, underscoring her significance in the team’s success.

Nigeria’s Historic Moment:

The football world is abuzz with reactions as Nigeria becomes the first African country to have both men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or nominees in the same year, thanks to the inclusion of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala in the shortlist.

This momentous achievement not only highlights the remarkable talent emerging from Nigeria but also raises questions about whether Nigeria is evolving into the true giant of African football.

Both Osimhen’s and Oshoala’s nominations are further punctuated by their respective league victories. Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala both secured their league titles, solidifying their status as champions in their own right.

As discussions and debates continue, one thing remains certain: Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala’s nominations have cemented their places in the annals of Nigerian and African football history, inspiring future generations of footballers and showcasing Nigeria’s growing influence on the global football stage.