Former Wimbledon star John Fashanu believes playing for Liverpool gives Moammed Salah an edge over Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and has tipped the Egyptian to win the prestigious African Player of The Year award.
The award, which began in 1970, is presented to the best African footballer each year, with Mali’s Salif Keita the first to win it.
It was initially presented to the winner by France Football magazine, before it was taken over by the Confederation of African Football in 1992.
Osimhen and Salah have been in impressive forms for their various clubs, with the Super Eagles striker scoring nine times in 12 matches this season, while Salah has 15 goals in 13 matches.
While both players, along with Chelsea’s Edwoud Mendy, have emerged as the top contenders for the award, Fashanu tipped Liverpool talisman Salah to win the award for a third time, having won it in 2017 and 2018.
“Victor Osimhen is a fantastic young player with a lot of quality; he’s been scoring great goals for Napoli in a league where beating defenders can be a tough job. But obviously, Salah, playing for Liverpool, gives him an edge over Osimhen because the Reds are a big club with world-class players under one of the best managers in the world,” Fashanu told The PUNCH.
“And if you are scoring for one of the best teams in the world consistently, then that certainly puts you in a better position for the player of the year award.
“Napoli are equally a big team but they are not in the league of Liverpool. Osimhen has had a wonderful season with the Italian club so far, even though it has not been easy.
“So, I think the award will go to the Liverpool man.”
Nwankwo Kanu was the last Nigerian to win the award when he beat Samuel Kuffour and Ibrahima Bakayoyo to claim the prize in 1999.
SOURCE : Punch
