Osimhen Named Most Valuable African Footballer

Femi Solaja

After a superb season in which he played a significant role in making Napoli win a third Scudetto title after 33 years, Victor Osimhen, has been named as the most Valuable African Footballer in the world.

The Nigerian international who is on the radar of top European clubs as the summer transfer window is about to begin, was listed amongst the top 100 most valuable footballers in the world at the moment by the CIES Football Observatory.

According to the CIES report published on Thursday, Osimhen, who is now a cult hero in Naples is valued at €77.3 million. 

The valuation done using a statistical model exclusively developed by CIES, ranked the 24-year-old Nigerian star 40th in the world, making him the highest-ranked African in the top 100.

With the valuation, Osimhen beats Liverpool and Egypt’s superstar, Mohamed Salah, who is valued at €61.2 million.

Osimhen became the first African to be crowned Goal King of Italy this season, scoring a total of 26  Serie A goals. 

He surpassed the feat of one-time World Footballer of the Year George Weah, Samuel Eto’o and Obafemi Martins to become the first striker from Africa to finish top scorer of the top league.

Two other Africans on the list, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus, were also valued at €53.7 million and  €53.5 million respectively by CIES.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland was ranked as the most valuable footballer based on transfer values at the moment. 

Haaland, who also led his club to domestic success in England, has an estimated value of €245.5 million.