The Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Sunday, November 16, 2025, set the stage for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year award.
The CAF has unveiled the final three nominees for the prestigious CAF Player of the Year 2025 award.
The three football stars are Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
The trio will go head-to-head for the top honour at the gala in Rabat, Morocco, on November 19, 2025.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah, a two-time winner of the award (2017, 2018), enters the final shortlist following another sensational year for club and country. The Liverpool forward was instrumental in his club’s Premier League title win in the 2024/25 season, registering 29 goals and 18 assists in the league alone.
He also ranked fourth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting.
Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi is one of the strongest contender for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year award having played a hug role in Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) treble-winning season, which included the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the coveted UEFA Champions League title. The Moroccan right-back contributed 8 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.
Victor Osimhen
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, has made a powerful case for a second win with an elite goalscoring year for Galatasaray. After moving to Turkey, Osimhen promptly became the Super Lig’s top scorer with 26 goals and netted a prolific 37 goals in 41 matches across all competitions, helping Galatasaray secure a domestic league and cup double.
Meanwhile, in the women’s version, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade was also part of the shortlist for the prize.
She will contend with Morocco’s duo of Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy.
Men’s category: CAF Award
Below are the shortlists for the men’s categories in the 2025 CAF Awards;
Player of the Year
1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)
2. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
3. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)
Goalkeeper of the Year
- Munir Mohamedi (Morocco / RS Berkane)
- Yassine Bonou (Morocco / Al Hilal)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Interclub Player of the Year
- Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids)
- Mohamed Chibi (Morocco / Pyramids)
- Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco / RS Berkane)
Coach of the Year
- Bubista (Cape Verde)
- Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20)
- Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Young Player of the Year
- Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco / Ajax)
- Othmane Maamma (Morocco / Watford)
- Tylon Smith (South Africa / Queens Park Rangers)
National Team of the Year
- Cape Verde
- Morocco
- Morocco U-20
Club of the Year
- Pyramids
- RS Berkane
- Mamelodi Sundowns
Women’s Player of the Year
- Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal)
- Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
- Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria/Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco/AS FAR)
- Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Andile Dlamini (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Due to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, the winner will be revealed later. Details will be announced in due course.
Women’s Young Player of the Year
- Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
- Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
- Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Nigeria/Bayelsa Queens)
Women’s Team of the Year
- Ghana
- Morocco
- Nigeria
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
Due to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, the winner will be revealed later. Details will be announced in due course.
Women’s Club of the Year
Due to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, the winner will be revealed later. Details will be announced in due course.
