Former Nigeria Football Association president, Kojo Williams, has offered his opinion on Victor Osimhen’s absence from the nominees for the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.
Osimhen, who won the African Player of the Year award in 2023, was surprisingly missing from this year’s shortlist despite his impressive performances in European football.
The development has attracted attention, particularly because Nigeria will host this year’s ceremony in Lagos but has no representative in any of the men’s award categories.
Speaking on ThePlayzone podcast, Williams said Nigeria’s poor results in international competitions may have influenced the decision to leave Osimhen and other Nigerian players out of the nominations.
According to him, the country’s inability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and win the Africa Cup of Nations makes it difficult to question CAF’s decision.
Williams acknowledged that Osimhen performed well in Europe but suggested that playing in a less prominent league compared to some of his competitors could also have affected his chances.
He pointed to players representing top European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, as possible contenders who may have enjoyed an advantage in the selection process.
However, the former NFA chief maintained that Osimhen’s quality was never in doubt, recalling that the Galatasaray striker earned continental recognition during his time at Napoli.
Nigeria’s absence from the shortlist is particularly disappointing considering that the Super Eagles finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with three players earning places in the tournament’s official Team of the Tournament.
Osimhen is also currently recovering from knee surgery, which has ruled him out of Nigeria’s upcoming international fixtures against Tanzania.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will have another opportunity to improve the country’s standing in African football when they begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Tanzania in Uyo on Friday.
Williams’ comments have added to the debate over whether individual performances or national team achievements should carry more weight when CAF selects its award nominees.
