CAF Awards: Osimhen vs Hakimi Sparks Anxiety as Nigerians Recall Hadji vs Okocha Duel

• Victor Osimhen is a strong contender for the 2023 CAF Player of the Year Award
• The Nigerian star faces strong opposition from Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah
• Nigerians are apprehensive that a repeat of the 1998 edition will happen in 2023

The 2023 CAF Player of the Year showdown involving Victor Osimhen and Achraf Hakimi has evoked the memories of Mustapha Hadji and Jay Jay Okocha in 1998.

Nigerian legend, Okocha had been tipped to win the prize as the continent's best player that year but the prestigious prize was instead handed to Hadji of Morocco.

25 years later, some believe the situation could repeat itself as Osimhen faces Hakimi at the awards event tonight.

The Nigerian international was recently shortlisted for the 2023 CAF Player Award along with the Moroccan star and Egyptian ace, Mohamed Salah.

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However, the genuine contenders are Osimhen and Hakimi.

Osimhen's Remarkable 2022/2023 Season

The Super Eagles forward had a remarkable 2022/23 season, leading Napoli to the Serie A title for the first time in more than three decades, scoring 26 league goals, per TransferMarkt.

He netted 31 goals in 38 matches in all competitions during the last campaign, smashing the record set by Liberian legend, George Weah.

Osimhen was named the Serie A's best striker for the season and the best player for that campaign - the first African to achieve such a feat.

On the international scene, he finished as the top scorer in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

What a season for Achraf Hakimi

On the other hand, Hakimi also had a remarkable 2022/23 season. He played a pivotal role as Morocco became the first African side to reach the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup, achieving the feat in Qatar last year.

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He played in all their seven matches at the Mundial and was arguably the best right full-back at the tournament.

Hakimi was also part of the Paris Saint-Germain squad that won the Ligue 1 title last season, contributing five goals and six assists during the campaign.

Osimhen vs Hakimi: Echoes of Hadji and Okocha 1998

Arguably, Okocha should have won it in 1998, but he lost out to Morocco's Hadji by 74 points to 76.

Many anticipated him to fill the void left by Victor Ikpeba, being Africa's standout performer at France '98, where his sublime skills captivated spectators, earning him the sole African spot in the FIFA All-Stars XI.

Despite Hadji scoring a remarkable goal during the tournament, he still needed recognition in the selection. His noteworthy performances continued at the AFCON tournament in 1998, where Okocha was absent, and he was handed the coveted prize.

Former CAF Secretary, General Moustapha Fahmy said in 2020, via GOAL:

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"Hadji might have won because Okocha missed Burkina Faso 98.”

Despite the fact that Osimhen looks good for the award this year, Nigerians are apprehensive that Morocco's Hakimi could take home the gong.

Mboma tips Osimhen for CAF Award

Sports Brief also previously reported that Cameroon legend, Patrick Mboma has tipped Osimhen to win the 2023 CAF Player of the Year Award.

The Confederation of African Football recently released the list of 30 nominees for the men’s categories, scheduled for December 11 in Marrakech.

Osimhen, Salah, and Hakimi were shortlisted this year, with stars like Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane and Al-Hilal's Yassine Bounou losing out.