Emmanuel Amuneke, former Super Eagles winger and 1994 AFCON winner, clarifies that he abstained from voting in the 2023 CAF Player of The Year award, won by Victor Osimhen.
Amidst criticism for a video showing him selecting Mohamed Salah, Amuneke, also Osimhen’s former coach, insists Osimhen was not part of the discussion during his vote. Addressing the rumors, he states on a WhatsApp group, “I was never elected to vote.”
“On our way to the novelty game that we played in Marrakech, a former player and captain of the Egyptian national team – who is preparing himself to become a TV producer in Egypt – with his group, he was debating on the Arabian team and he raised the question between Hakimi and Salah.
“There was a time Osimhen was mentioned in that discussion. He came to me and asked ‘Hakimi or Salah’. I have to say Salah. And the reason why I said Salah was because I played in Egypt and I lived in Egypt and I know some of the guys there,” Amuneke explained.
He also expressed delight in Osimhen’s emergence with the hope that the Napoli striker will reach greater heights in the game.
“So, there is nothing like voting against Osimhen. Osimhen is our player and our boy. We are happy about what he has achieved and we hope he will continue to dream and achieve more for the betterment of his career and the betterment of Nigeria.”
Amuneke also won the CAF Player of The Year award in 1994.
