Super Eagles striker and Galatasaray standout Victor Osimhen has been named Turkey’s GQ Sportsman of the Year, adding another major accolade to what has been a career-defining spell in Istanbul.
Osimhen received the honour on Wednesday night at a black-tie ceremony in Istanbul, where GQ Turkey celebrated leading figures in sports, entertainment, fashion and culture.
A Record-Breaking Season
Since joining Galatasaray, Osimhen has become one of the club’s most influential stars. His debut season was nothing short of dominant:
- 37 goals and seven assists in 41 matches,
- A domestic league and cup double,
- And a transfer that made headlines—Galatasaray activated a permanent deal worth €75 million, the highest in Turkish football history.
Though hampered by injuries this season, Osimhen has maintained his scoring touch, netting 11 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions.
A Pillar for the Super Eagles
Osimhen also remains central to Nigeria’s national team. Despite missing the first four games of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he returned in explosive form, scoring six goals in five matches and leading Nigeria into the play-offs.
He scored twice in the semi-final win over Gabon, but a late injury limited his impact during the final against DR Congo, where Nigeria fell on penalties.
Osimhen is expected to spearhead Nigeria’s attack at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled for December 21 to January 18, 2026.
The striker thanked GQ Turkey, Galatasaray, and fans worldwide, promising to “continue giving his best for club and country.”
Other GQ Honorees
The ceremony also recognised leading figures across Turkish entertainment and culture.
- Aras Aydın: International Achiever of the Year
- Sinem Ünsal: Woman of the Year
- Edis: Music Person of the Year
- Bahtiyar Büyükduman: Chef of the Year
Eleven other awards honoured influencers across media, arts and business.
CAF Awards Ignite Controversy in Nigeria
Meanwhile, the release of the 2025 CAF Awards voting results has triggered widespread backlash in Nigeria, with critics raising questions about transparency and fairness.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi won African Footballer of the Year with 533 points, ahead of Mohamed Salah (317) and Osimhen (240), despite the Nigerian striker’s exceptional club season.
The fiercest criticism followed the ballot submitted by CAF Technical Expert Daniel Amokachi, who ranked Osimhen fifth, awarding him just one point.
Fans reacted with anger, accusing some delegates of “undermining Nigerian players on the global stage.”
Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Chelle and team captain William Troost-Ekong had both voted Osimhen first, placing Hakimi second.
Debates Also Hit the Women’s Categories
Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak won Women’s Player of the Year, ahead of Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo.
Nigerian media delegate Samuel Ahmadu prompted further uproar after ranking Ajibade fifth and placing Goalkeeper of the Year winner Chiamaka Nnadozie only fifth on his ballot.
He also ranked Tanzania above Nigeria for Women’s Team of the Year—a category Nigeria still won by a narrow margin.
Calls for CAF Voting Reform Grow
Analysts say the voting irregularities highlight systemic issues. Some national associations failed to submit ballots, while others may have misunderstood the scoring system.
CAF has said votes were based on performances from January 6 to October 15, ahead of the November 19 ceremony in Rabat.
As debate intensifies, Nigerian fans and football analysts are calling for stricter guidelines, greater transparency, and independent oversight to protect the integrity of African football’s biggest awards.
