Victor Osimhen, 1 other Nigerian star shortlisted among 11 players for prestigious award in Europe

Victor Osimhen, 1 other Nigerian star shortlisted among 11 players for prestigious award in Europe

Super Eagles duo Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon have been shortlisted for this year's Marc-Vivien Foe prestigious prize alongside nine other African stars.

The annual award, organised by Radio France International and France 24 is put together to recognise African players plying their trade in the European country.

According to Goal.com, the 11 contenders were announced this weekend with the winner scheduled to be revealed on June 29.

Simon joined Nantes on Loan from La Liga side Levante and at the end of the botched season, he was named the club's best player of the season.

The former Gent star netted eight goals and nine assists in all competitions for the Canaries despite not finishing the league season due to deadly coronavirus.

Osimhen, on the other hand, was also superb for Lille, helping them to finish fourth on the table while scoring 18 goals and six assists in 38 appearances across competitions.

It would also be worthy to note that the forward, who recently lost his father joined the club last summer from Sporting Charleroi.

He is however linked with a move away after just one season.

Other players who will battle the Super Eagles duo for the prize are Reims' defender Yunis Abdelhamid, Saint-Etienne attacker Denis Bouanga, Montpellier forward Andy Delort.

Also listed for the award are Habib Diallo who plays for Metz, Idrissa Gueye of Paris Saint Germain, Monaco striker Islam Slimani and Rennes trio Mbaye Niang, Hamari Traore, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Senegal dominate the list with four players, while Algeria and Nigeria produced two each.

One player each from Gabon, Morocco, and Mali however wrap up the 11-man shortlist for the prestigious prize whose winner would be revealed next month.

Former Lille's forward Nicolas Pepe won the last edition before making a club-record move to Arsenal in 2019.

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