Reigning Africa Best, Victor Osimhen faces stiff competition from Bundesliga star Serhou Guirassy for the CAF Player of the Year award, Soccernet.ng reports.
Guirassy, who enjoyed a sensational season with VfB Stuttgart, has garnered strong support from former Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor.
Guirassy’s remarkable performance saw him net 28 goals in the Bundesliga, finishing just behind Harry Kane in the Golden Boot race. His goals helped Stuttgart secure a surprise second-place finish, ahead of Bayern Munich.
Adebayor, despite being an Osimhen fan, believes Guirassy’s achievements deserve recognition.
“Of course [he deserves to win],” former Arsenal and Man City star Adebayor told Afrik-Foot about Guirassy. “He had an extraordinary season with Stuttgart, he is a striker who scored a lot.
“He will be one of the contenders, that’s for sure, especially since Salah has not scored as much, Victor Osimhen did not have the same season as the year of the title. It’s open this year. If it’s Guirassy, it will be deserved.”
While Guirassy shines in Germany, Ademola Lookman has also emerged as a strong contender for the award after an exceptional campaign for Atalanta.
Lookman’s outstanding performances, including a hat-trick in the Europa League final, have thrust him into the spotlight.
Victor Boniface is another name in the mix. Despite missing out on Europa League glory with Bayer Leverkusen, his contributions to the team’s league and cup double make him a strong candidate.
Osimhen, despite a challenging season with Napoli, remains a formidable force with 17 goals in all competitions. Mohamed Salah, though quiet by his standards, still boasts 18 Premier League goals and 25 in all competitions.
Achraf Hakimi’s excellent season with Paris Saint-Germain, contributing to their Ligue 1 title and reaching the Champions League semi-finals, also makes him a strong contender for the prestigious award.
