CAF Awards 2025: Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi lead Player of the Year Nominee List

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the nominees for the 2025 CAF Awards, honouring the most outstanding performers in African football across players, coaches, clubs, and national teams. The announcement, made on Monday via CAF’s official website, celebrates those who have made remarkable contributions to the game between January 6 and October 15, 2025.

A selection panel made up of members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee, seasoned coaches, CAF Legends, and top media professionals shortlisted 10 nominees per category, evaluating performances across local and international competitions.

Osimhen, Salah, and Hakimi headline the list

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi headline this year’s list of nominees for CAF Men’s Player of the Year, representing a mix of consistent excellence, leadership, and impact at both club and national levels.

Osimhen has enjoyed another prolific year, leading the line for Galatasaray while spearheading Nigeria’s campaign on the international stage. Salah remains a global icon for Liverpool and Egypt, continuing to deliver match-winning performances. Hakimi, a key player for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco, has maintained his position as one of the world’s best full-backs, contributing heavily in both defence and attack.

Other notable contenders

Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli) stands out for his commanding presence in midfield, while DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele earns recognition for his prolific goalscoring run with Pyramids FC, helping them secure the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title.

Read also: CAF Awards 2024: Ademola Lookman wins Player of the Year

The list also features Denis Bouanga (Gabon/LAFC), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane), and Senegalese duo Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) and Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur), underlining the depth of African talent shining across global football.

Full List of Nominees

Men’s Player of the Year

• Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli)
• Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
• Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
• Denis Bouanga (Gabon/Los Angeles FC)
• Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund)

• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)
• Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane)
• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray)
• Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal/Everton)
• Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal/Tottenham Hotspur)

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year

• Andre Onana (Cameroon/Trabzonspor)
• Vozinha (Cape Verde/Chaves)
• Ahmed El Shenawy (Egypt/Pyramids)
• Munir Mohamedi (Morocco/RS Berkane)
• Yassine Bonou (Morocco/Al Hilal)

• Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria/Chippa United)
• Edouard Mendy (Senegal/Al Ahli)
• Marc Diouf (Senegal/Tengueth)
• Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Aymen Dahmen (Tunisia/CS Sfaxien)

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year

• Ismael Belkacemi (Algeria/Al Ahli Tripoli)
• Blati Toure (Burkina Faso/Pyramids FC)
• Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso/RS Berkane)
• Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
• Ahmed Samy (Egypt/Pyramids)

• Emam Ashour (Egypt/Al Ahly)
• Ibrahim Adel (Egypt/Pyramids)
• Mohamed Hrimat (Morocco/AS FAR)
• Mohamed Chibi (Morocco/Pyramids)
• Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane)
• Shomari Kapombe (Tanzania/Simba)

Men’s Coach of the Year

• Bubista (Cape Verde)
• Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
• Krunoslav Jurcic (Pyramids)
• Sami Trabelsi (Tunisia)
• Romuald Rakotondrabe (Madagascar CHAN)

• Moine Chaabani (RS Berkane)
• Tarik Sektioui (Morocco CHAN)
• Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20)
• Walid Regragui (Morocco)
• Pape Thiaw (Senegal)

Men’s Young Player of the Year

• Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso/Real du Faso)
• Alynho Haidara (Cote d’Ivoire/Mainz 05 Jacqueville)
• Noah Sadiki (DR Congo/Sunderland)
• Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax)
• Houssam Essadak (Morocco/US Touarga)

• Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford)
• Daniel Bameyi (Nigeria/Primorje)
• Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone/Minnesota United)
• Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa/Orlando Pirates)
• Tylon Smith (South Africa/Queens Park Rangers)

Men’s National Team of the Year

• Algeria
• Cape Verde
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Egypt
• Ghana
• Morocco U-20
• Morocco
• Senegal
• South Africa
• Tunisia

Men’s Club of the Year

• CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
• CS Constantine (Algeria)
• ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
• Pyramids (Egypt)
• RS Berkane (Morocco)
• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
• Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
• Stellenbosch (South Africa)
• Al Hilal (Sudan)
• Simba (Tanzania)

The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony will celebrate not just individual brilliance but also the growing influence of African football on the world stage. With several stars competing in top leagues and tournaments globally, the event promises to highlight the continent’s best and brightest talents.

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