Osimhen, Bono, Onana lead Africa’s Ballon d’Or charge

Africa's nominees for the 2023 Ballon d'Or | Imago

Osimhen, Bono, Onana lead Africa’s Ballon d’Or charge

Ayoola Kelechi 23:51 - 06.09.2023

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen was one of four African stars nominated for the 2023 Ballon d'Or

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been named as one of five African players in the final shortlist for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award. 

Osimhen among four Africans nominated for Ballon d’Or

The Napoli forward was outstanding in the 2022/23 season under consideration for the award, helping the Partenopei to their first Serie A title in 33 years. 

The Nigerian forward was instrumental in Napoli’s success, claiming the Serie A Golden Boot after scoring 26 times in 31 appearances during the campaign. He was rewarded with a nomination for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the first time in his career and is among the continent’s leading lights on the award shortlist. 

Victor Osimhen has netted three goals in three matches for Napoli. (Photo Credit: Asiwaju Lerry/X)
Victor Osimhen has netted three goals in three matches for Napoli. (Photo Credit: Asiwaju Lerry/X)

Also nominated for the Ballon d’Or were Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana, and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou. 

Africa still waiting for first Ballon d'Or since Weah

Salah’s underrated season at Liverpool saw him net 30 goals and provide 16 assists in 51 games for the Merseysiders. 

Onana helped Inter reach the final of the UEFA Champions League, keeping more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the competition. 

At the same time, Bounou was a driving force behind the Moroccan team that made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, reaching the semifinals, and the Sevilla team that won the 2023 UEFA Europa League. 

With the front runners for the award being Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Norway’s Erling Haaland, it is unlikely that Africa will celebrate a Ballon d’Or award for the first time since George Weah in 1995, but the nominees on the shortlist have definitely done the continent proud. 

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