CAF Awards: Amunike shaped my career – Osimhen hails former coach

• Says that without Amunike, he wouldn’t have turned out to be the successful football player he is today

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has acknowledged the role Nigerian legend and former Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amunike, played in his career.

He said that without Amunike, he wouldn’t have turned out to be the successful football player he is today.

The Napoli striker stated this while receiving the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award at the CAF Awards in Morocco, on Monday night.

“I want to appreciate Emmanuel Amunike, without him, I will not be here.

“Drogba is my role model. I love you all,” he said.

Osimhen broke a 24-year jinx to become the first Nigerian player to win the African Men’s Footballer of the Year award since Nwankwo Kanu last won it in 1999.

Osimhen defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s World Cup star, Achraf Hakimi, to clinch the award.

He also the only Nigerian player included in the CAF 2023 Best XI (Men).

Osimhen’s breakthrough moment came in 2015, when he led the Nigerian U-17 team to victory in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he was awarded the Golden Boot and the Silver Ball.

Amunike was the coach of the victorious Nigerian U-17 team.