Former Super Eagles winger, Emmanuel Amuneke has shut down reports that he voted for Egypt’s Mohamed Salah ahead of Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen in the 2023 CAF Best Player Award.
Osimhen won the Men’s Player of The Year Award, on Monday, seeing off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, among others.
Before the award ceremony in Morrocco, it was reported that Amuneke named Mo Salah ahead of compatriot Osimhen as the most deserving of the top prize in African football.
However, during his acceptance speech, the Napoli star dedicated his win to the man who gave him the chance to play for Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup in 2015.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemvn. First of all, I want to say thank you God for everything. Special thanks goes to Emmanuel Amunike.
“Without him, I don’t think I would be standing in front of you guys holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football. It’s a dream come true for me,” Osimhen said.
Speaking on his rumoured vote for Salah and the eventual result, Amuneke clarified that he was never elected to vote in the CAF Awards.
The ex-Nigeria international also said the viral video that led to the uproar was a Moroccan journalist asking him to choose between Salah and Achraf Hakimi.
“I was never elected to vote in the CAF Awards. A Moroccan journalist came to me and asked ‘Hakimi or Salah’.
“I said Salah because I played in Egypt and I lived in Egypt and I know some of the guys there. Osimhen was never in the conversation,” Amuneke said.
