Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen has clinched the prestigious Italian Footballers’ Association (IFA) Footballer of the Year award, marking a triumphant season with Napoli.
The announcement was made by IFA through its verified X page, accompanied by a video capturing the award presentation. Osimhen’s recognition stems from his instrumental role in Napoli’s historic title-winning season, ending a 33-year drought, and securing the top scorer title in Serie A for the previous season with an impressive 26 goals in 32 appearances.
The ‘Footballer of the Year’ accolade, previously bestowed upon football luminaries such as Rafael Leao, Gianluigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is considered the highlight of the evening, as reported by Football Italia.
This accolade surfaces amidst speculations about Osimhen’s potential departure from Italy next summer. Rumors circulate that the Nigerian player may be distancing himself from a new Napoli contract, sparked by a video released by the club on TikTok in September. The video, which trolled Osimhen for missing a late penalty against Bologna, drew considerable backlash on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter).
During this incident, Osimhen’s 24-year-old agent hinted at the possibility of legal action against Napoli for disseminating an objectionable video about the striker. The controversy unfolded after Osimhen engaged in a verbal altercation with the club’s then-manager, Rudi Garcia, following his substitution in the Bologna game.
