Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will battle Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi for the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award after being named on a 10-man shortlist alongside fellow Nigerians Stanley Nwabali and Daniel Bameyi, who earned nominations in their respective categories.
The Confederation of African Football on Wednesday unveiled the nominees for the men’s categories, with Osimhen returning to the top 10 of Africa’s best players after missing out on last year’s edition, which was won by Ademola Lookman.
The 26-year-old Nigerian forward enjoyed a remarkable season with Galatasaray, scoring 26 goals in the Turkish Süper Lig to claim the Golden Boot and help his team secure the league title. Across all competitions, Osimhen amassed 37 goals and eight assists, contributing to a domestic double as Galatasaray also lifted the Turkish Cup.
His outstanding performances earned him a record-breaking €75m permanent move from Napoli, cementing his status as one of Europe’s most lethal strikers.
For Osimhen, this nomination represents more than recognition; it’s a statement of intent. The 2023 CAF Player of the Year has his sights set on joining the elite ranks of legends who have won the continental crown more than once — names like Nwankwo Kanu, Samuel Eto’o, El Hadji Diouf, and Yaya Touré.
The former Napoli player recently helped the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup play-offs after a standout performance on the last day of qualifiers, further underlining his importance to both club and country.
However, Osimhen faces stiff competition from some of Africa’s finest talents. Morocco right-back Hakimi helped his club side Paris Saint-Germain to a domestic league and cup double and the Champions League trophy last season, and has finished as runner-up in the past two years.
Salah, who won the award in 2017 and 2018, claimed the Premier League Golden Boot and top assists awards as Liverpool reclaimed the title, maintaining his status as one of the world’s most consistent performers.
The other contenders on the shortlist are Cameroon midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Napoli, DR Congo striker Fiston Mayele of Pyramids FC, Gabon forward Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund, Moroccan midfielder Oussama Lamlioui of Renaissance Berkane, and Senegal duo Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur and Iliman Ndiaye of Everton.
In the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nwabali represents Nigeria after an impressive year that saw him progress from domestic clubs to South Africa’s Chippa United. The 29-year-old shot-stopper, who was also nominated last year, will battle South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Cameroon’s Andre Onana for the prestigious award.
Nwabali impressed at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, keeping four clean sheets in seven matches as Nigeria won the silver medal. His rivals include Trabzonspor’s Onana, Cape Verde’s Vozinha, Egypt’s Ahmed El Shenawy, Morocco duo Munir Mohamedi and Yassine Bounou, Senegal duo Édouard Mendy and Marc Diouf, Tunisia’s Aymen Dahmen, and Williams of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Both Osimhen and Nwabali starred in the Super Eagles team that fought to claim a play-off spot in the race to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 earlier this month.
In the Men’s Young Player of The Year category, 19-year-old Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi has been shortlisted among 10 nominees following his exceptional performances at both continental and global levels.
Bameyi’s leadership and defensive solidity were key as Nigeria reached the round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. The teenager also captained the Flying Eagles to victory at the WAFU U-20 championship and led the team to a third-place finish at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
He will face competition from Asharaf Tapsoba, Alynho Haidara, Othmane Maamma, Noah Sadiki, Abdellah Quazane, Houssam Essadak, Momoh Kamara, Mbekezile Mbokazi and Tylon Smith.
CAF Announces Complete Nominee Lineup for 2025 Awards, with Osimhen Among Top Contenders
The CAF Awards ceremony will honour the players, coaches, and teams that have made a significant impact during the period under consideration, from January 6 to October 15 2025. A panel of experts made up of CAF Technical & Development Committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends, and selected media representatives decided on 10 nominees for each category, considering the performance in all competitions.
Last week, CAF announced the women’s categories, with Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie earning nominations for African Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively.
Ajibade has been nominated alongside her Super Falcons team-mate Esther Okoronkwo, who won the Woman of the Match award in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Paris Saint-Germain forward was voted Player of the Tournament at the 2024 WAFCON, where she netted once and provided two assists.
Nnadozie, who plays for Brighton Hove & Albion of England, has been nominated for the third consecutive year. The 24-year-old has won the award for two consecutive years and will be eyeing her third.
The Super Falcons have been nominated for the National Team of the Year award after capturing their 10th continental title under coach Justine Madugu, who has been shortlisted for Women’s Coach of the Year.
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, have also been nominated for National Team of the Year following their unbeaten run in qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Flamingos coach Bankole Olowookere earned a nomination for Women’s Coach of the Year, while captain Shakirat Moshood has been named among the finalists for CAF Young Player of the Year.
Bayelsa Queens, winners of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, earned a nomination for Club of the Year. The Queens will compete against powerhouses such as South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s ASFAR, TP Mazembe of DR Congo, and Botswana’s Gaborone United.
In other men’s categories, Cape Verde boss Bubista has been nominated for Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Sharks to a historic first-ever qualification for the World Cup. The Atlantic Ocean islanders are also in the running for National Team of the Year alongside the Morocco side, which recently won the Under-20 World Cup.
Other nominees for National Team of the Year include Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco senior team, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
The nominees for Coach of the Year also include Morocco’s Walid Regragui, Egypt’s Hossam Hassan, Renaissance Berkane’s Moine Chaabani, Pyramids’ Krunoslav Jurcic, Morocco U-20 coach Mohamed Ouahbi, Madagascar’s Romuald Rakotondrabe, Morocco U-23 coach Tarik Sektioui, Senegal’s Pape Thiaw and Tunisia’s Sami Trabelsi.
The Awards Gala is expected to take place in Morocco later this year, with CAF yet to announce a specific date for the ceremony. …Punchng.com
