Football

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen named best African player in France

Lille forward Victor Osimhen has been named the 2020 winner of Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, the award given to the Best African player in Ligue 1 in a season.

The Nigeria striker has now succeeded Arsenal and Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe who won the award last season in France after his fine contributions for Lille.

The award is dedicated to late Cameroon international Marc Vivien Foe who died in a Confederations Cup game against France in 2003.

Osimhen had a successful debut season in France where he scored 18 goals in 31 appearances in all competition.

The 21-year-old striker beat his compatriot Moses Simon who also had a good season with Nantes.

Other players who were in the running for the award were Idrissa Gueye (Paris Saint-Germain and Senegal), Mbaye Niang (Rennes and Senegal) Edouard Mendy (Rennes and Senegal), Habib Diallo (Metz and Senegal), Islam Slimani (Monaco and Algeria), Andy Delort (Montpellier and Algeria), Yunis Abdelhamid (Reims and Morocco), Denis Bouanga (Saint-Etienne and Gabon) and Hamari Traore (Renness and Mali).

Osimhen is now only the second Nigerian to win the award since its inception in 2009 after former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama who won it in 2014.

He joined Lille last summer from Belgian club Sporting Charleroi.

His performances have also been rewarded as he won the Lille’s Player of the Year award and was included in Ligue 1’s Team of the Season.

Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is the lead Combat Sports writer for AfroBallers. He is an expert in Boxing, Mixed Martial Art and Wrestling reportage. Isaac is a journalist with newfound love for athlete management and digital media.

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