Nigerian-born Saka wins EPL men’s Young Player of the Year award

Arsenal FC of London and Nigerian-born England international, Bukayo Saka has won the English Premier League (EPL) men’s Young Player of the Year award for the last 2022-2023 football season.

Saka won the award organised by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in recognition of his outstanding performance in the last 2022-2023 season which ended last May.

The PFA awards recognises outstanding players in the league for both men and women’s leagues

It would be recalled that Saka who was in Lagos, earlier last month to visit his parent’s home, other family members and some charity homes, is a Nigerian by birth as both parents hail from the country. However, the footballer represents the England national team while playing for Arsenal FC in north London.

In other awards, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland scooped the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award on Tuesday after his stellar first season with the treble winners.

England and Aston Villa star Rachel Daly won the women’s prize, voted for by fellow players.

Haaland enjoyed a stunning debut season for City, hitting 52 goals in all competitions as Pep Guardiola’s men won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

The 23-year-old saw off competition from team-mates John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne, as well as from Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard and former Tottenham striker Harry Kane, now at Bayern Munich.

Chelsea’s Lauren James picked up the women’s Young Player award.

Daly and James were key performers for England in their run to the Women’s World Cup final, which ended in defeat against Spain earlier this month.

Villa’s Daly scored 22 goals in the Women’s Super League last season, a remarkable achievement for a player who featured at left-back in the Lionesses’ successful Euros campaign in 2022.

The 31-year-old beat off competition from Sam Kerr, Frida Maanum, Guro Reiten, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Ona Batlle.