Nigeria legend Emmanuel Amuneke has said more should be expected from Victor Osimhen after the Super Eagles striker finished eighth in the 2023 men’s Ballon d’Or.
The 24-year-old was the top African player in this year’s rankings, and became the highest-placed Nigerian in the award’s selection since its inception in 1956, thanks a remarkable 2022-23 season in which he scored 26 Serie A goals to help Napoli win their first Italian title in 33 years.
Osimhen also became the highest-scoring African in a Serie A season, breaking the previous record held by 1995 Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, who is now president of Liberia.
“There is no doubt about his character, in terms of his desire and zeal to achieve something, succeed and win,” Amuneke, who nurtured Osimhen while Nigeria Under-17 coach, told BBC Sport Africa.
“As a coach at youth level, that was something that made me admire him. That is one of the best [attributes] for a player to make it to the highest stage.”
Osimhen also finished top scorer in qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with 10 goals, and he is widely expected to claim the 2023 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s player of the year trophy.
