The 2023 Ballon D’ Or ceremony took place recently, capturing the attention of football enthusiasts worldwide.
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While Lionel Messi clinched the prestigious award for the seventh time, there were notable surprises in the voting process. Particularly, it’s Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian sensation, who has left fans scratching their heads.
In the midst of all the football euphoria, a striking revelation emerged – no African representative cast their vote for Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s football star, during the Ballon d’Or voting process. The question that naturally arises is, why would fellow Africans bypass voting for one of their own?
Here’s a glimpse into the voting results from various African nations:
🇳🇬 Nigeria: Messi
🇿🇦 South Africa: Messi
🇩🇿 Algeria: Haaland
🇧🇯 Benin: Haaland
🇨🇲 Cameroon: Mbappé
🇨🇻 Cape Verde: Messi
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast: Mbappé
🇪🇬 Egypt: Messi
🇬🇦 Gabon: Haaland
🇬🇭 Ghana: Haaland
🇬🇳 Guinea: Haaland
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea: Messi
🇲🇦 Morocco: Messi
🇺🇬 Uganda: Messi
🇸🇳 Senegal: Haaland
🇹🇳 Tunisia: Messi
🇿🇲 Zambia: Messi
Despite being the standout player for Napoli during the 2022/23 season and consistently delivering stellar performances for Nigeria, Osimhen’s omission from the ballots is perplexing.
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This development has ignited passionate discussions and debates among Nigerians, who feel that their compatriot deserve more recognition. Osimhen’s extraordinary season and the impact he made on Napoli’s performance, as well as Nigeria’s footballing campaigns, had many Nigerians expecting stronger support from their own.
It’s worth noting that even neighbouring Ghana showed solidarity by voting for their own country’s player. This contrast highlights the apparent lack of support for Osimhen among Nigerians themselves.
While the Ballon d’Or is inherently a matter of personal choice, the absence of votes for Osimhen raises critical questions about the criteria and motivations guiding these choices. The puzzling fact that Nigerians didn’t back one of their own, despite his fantastic season, emphasizes the subjective and diverse nature of opinions within the footballing world.
As the football community continues to celebrate Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or win, the notable absence of votes for Victor Osimhen remains a thought-provoking subject for Nigerians and football enthusiasts around the globe. The question lingers: Was this a missed opportunity to honour one of Africa’s finest football talents?
