Victor Osimhen Misses Napoli's Training, Lands In Morocco Ahead Of CAF Awards 2023. {Watch Video}

Victor Osimhen has reportedly landed in Morocco ahead of the CAF award ceremony, as he is favourite to clinch the award tonight after his exploits with Napoli and Super Eagles of Nigeria in the outgoing year.

Osimhen was in action at the weekend but could not help his champions Napoli escape defeat to Juventus in Turin. 

La repubblica reports that the Nigerian striker didn’t train with his Napoli teammates at the club's training base at the Castel Volturno on Monday morning, but instead took a a private flight from Capodichino Airport to Marrakech, Morocco, to be part of the award ceremony.

The 24-year-old was seen in a video posted on social media safely landing in Marrakech, Morocco as he alighted from his private plane.

Victor Osimhen, @victorosimhen9 lands in Morocco 🇲🇦 ahead of #CAFAwards2023 tonight.

Naija way 🔥🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/llzeBZ9uES

— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) December 11, 2023

 Osimhen hopes to become the first Nigerian to win the prestigious award breaking a 24 years jinx, since the legendary Nwankwo Kanu won it twice in 1996 and 1999 when he was in Arsenal and Inter Milan.

Kanu scored 17 times in 50 matches for Arsenal, including a famous hat-trick in 15 minutes against Chelsea in October 1999 to turn a 2–0 deficit into a 3–2 victory, but however, failed to make an appearance for the Super Eagles that year.

Another Nigerian that has come close to winning the award was Chelsea star Mikel John Obi in 2013 but had to settle for second place behind Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast.

Osimhen would have to contest the award having been nominated alongside Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi.

Mo Salah who is a two time consecutive winner of the award in 2017 and 2018, was runner-up last year to Senegal striker Sadio Mane. He has been nominated again despite Liverpool finishing the past season without a single trophy.

While Achraf Hakimi, who won the French Ligue 1 title, was part of the inspirational Moroccan side that created history in the last 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semi-final stage of the World's biggest sporting event.

Osimhen on the other hand, had a sensational 2022/2023 season with Italian club side Napoli, guiding them to their first Serie A (Scudetto) title triumph in 33 years. 

He has been nominated for several awards after his remarkable displays for Napoli, as he was the top scorer in Serie A last season with 26 goals from 32 appearances.

He is the highest African goal scorer in Serie A and currently holds the record for the most goals scored by an African in a single season.

The striker was named Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Serie A Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season.

Osimhen was also ranked number 8 in the 2023 Ballon d’Or Award, which was held in Paris, France and became the first Nigerian ever to make the top ten of the prestigious award.

Internationally, Osimhen scored an incredible tally of 10 goals at the qualifiers as Nigeria booked a spot in the AFCON2023 set to be hosted by Ivory Coast next January. 

The winners for different categories in the CAF 2023 Awards will be announced tonight at Palais des Congrès, Movenpick, Marrakech, Morocco.