“Long live the new King” – Chelsea great Drogba’s first words to Napoli’s Osimhen after POTY win

The Nigerian international officially became the continent’s number-one football star, drawing applause from one of the best players to ever do it

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has joined many others in celebrating Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala after the two Nigerians were recognised as the best players in Africa on Monday night, Soccernet.ng reports.

Osimhen, whose goals powered Napoli to a first Scudetto title in 33 years and Nigeria to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, was named the winner of the 2023 CAF Player of the Year.

The Super Eagles striker beat stiff opposition from Morocco and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi and Egypt and Liverpool forward Mo Salah to clinch Nigeria’s first POTY title in 24 years.

Similarly, Oshoala was, for a record-extending sixth time, crowned the Best Women’s Player in Africa.

While delivering his award acceptance speech, Osimhen again acknowledged Drogba as his role model.

And the Ivorian legend took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to applaud Osimhen and Oshoala as the new faces of African football.

“Long live the new King and Queen of Africa
@victorosimhen9 @asisat_oshoala @caf_online. Congratulations, my Nigerian People, we are waiting for you in January
@afcon_2023,” Drogba wrote.

In congratulating Osimhen, Drogba also threw down the challenge that Ivory Coast cannot wait to trade tackles with Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in January.

The Ivorians, hosts of the tournament, have been drawn in the same group with Nigeria.

It would be the perfect stage for Osimhen to make a statement and lead the Super Eagles to a fourth continental trophy and the first in over ten years.