It has been revealed that no African Representative voted for Nigeria red hot striker Victor Osimhen during the Ballon d’Or ranking.
What has happened to Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen was nominated for the prestigious award following his outstanding performance with Napoli during the 2022/2023 Serie A campaign.
The 24-year-old bagged 26 league goals to clinch Serie A Golden Boot award and steer the team to their first Serie title in 33 years. He also led his team to a UEFA Champions League quarter-final finish.
Victor Osimhen secured 8th place in the ranking, becoming the first-ever Nigeria player to be nominated among the top ten football players in the world, breaking a 26-year-old record set by Kanu Nwankwo who finished 11th in 1997.
The ceremony was held in Paris where Lionel Messi was crowned the winner for the 8th time in his stunning career after a season that saw him bag the French Ligue 1 title and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland was placed second due to his excellent performance in the English Premier League and Europe last season, winning a treble with the Citizens.
Although the ceremony has come and gone but the leaked voting of African representatives has been released according to the countries that voted.
According to an insider close to the leaked votes by the award organizers, it was revealed that no single media person or representative of African countries voted for Victor Osimhen.
Below is how African Representatives cast their votes.
Nigeria- Messi
Africa – Messi
Algeria – Haaland
Benin -Haaland
Cameroon – Mbappe
Ivory Coast – Mbappe
Egypt – Messi
Gabon – Haaland
Ghana – Haaland
Equatorial Guinea – Haaland
Morocco – Messi
Uganda – Messi
Senegal- Haaland
Tunisia – Messi
Zambia – Messi
Cape Verde – Haaland
The Nigerian representative was believed to have voted for Lionel Messi instead of their countryman, Victor Osimhen.
However, it was confirmed that the Nigerian and Napoli frontman was voted by other representatives outside the Confederation for African Football.
The winner of the prestigious award is usually determined by votes from media representatives from the top hundred nations from the FIFA men’s World ranking, with each country excluding a representative.
Lionel Messi earned most of the votes, ending up with 462 points, while second placed Haaland gained hundred and five points behind the former FC Barcelona star.
What is next for Victor Osimhen?
Victor Osimhen has been selected for the CAF Footballer of the Year Award and the winner will be announced in Marrakesh, Morocco, on the 11th of December, 2023.
In addition, hopefully, the 24-year-old Nigeria-born player may win the award he deserves judging by his excellent performances last season.
