Best Young Player Award: Osimhen, Chukwueze Make Top Three Final Shortlist

The Nigerian youngsters have been named among the final top three contenders for the Youth Player of the Year award as revealed by CAF today.

Lille striker Victor Osimhen and Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze are among the best three young players on the continent, according to the Confederation of African Football CAF.

Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi, presently on loan at Borussia Dortmund, is the other player set to go head-to-head with Chukwueze and Osimhen as the top 3 finalists for African Youth Player of the Year.

In other categories, former Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo was edged out of the final three for the African Player of the Year award as only Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and the Liverpool duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane made the final cut.

But Super Falcons’ Asisat Oshoala remains the favourite to pick the African Women’s Player of the Year award. The Barcelona striker, though, has Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana to contend with for the honours.

The award winners for each category will be announced during the CAF Awards ceremony on Tuesday, 7 January 2020, at the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Egypt.

The event will celebrate African footballers and officials who have distinguished themselves during 2019. There will also be several new award categories in recognition of exceptional contributions to African football and inspiring individuals.