Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi Headline 2025 ‘African Player Of The Year’ Award Nominees

Nigeria’s superstar Victor Osimhen has been shortlisted for the 2025 African Player of the Year award. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the nominees via its X account on Wednesday.

The Galatasaray forward will face stiff competition from Egyptian and Liverpool star winger Mohamed Salah, Paris Saint-Germain’s Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, Guinean Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund, and Cameroon international Frank Anguissa.

Osimhen aims to reclaim the award he won in 2023 after helping Napoli secure their first Italian Serie A title in 40 years.

Also included in the shortlist for the CAF Best Player award are Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Fiston Mayele of the DR Congo and Pyramids FC, Iliman Ndiaye of Senegal and Everton, Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC and Gabon, and Oussama Lamlioui of Morocco and RS Berkane. The current holder of the award, Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman, did not make the shortlist for 2025.

In other nominations, Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been nominated for the 2025 CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award. Additionally, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi is in contention for the Young Player of the Year award after being shortlisted by CAF. Bameyi led the Flying Eagles to the round of 16 at the recently concluded FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.