Nigeria will be powerfully represented at the CAF Awards 2025, with Victor Osimhen, Stanley Nwabali, and Daniel Bameyi nominated in key categories after outstanding seasons for club and country.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen headlines the Player of the Year (Men) nominees following a record-breaking debut campaign in Turkey, where he fired 37 goals to lead Galatasaray to the Turkish League and Cup double.
Osimhen’s heroics have put him in contention with some of Africa’s biggest names Mohamed Salah, who guided Liverpool to the Premier League title, and Achraf Hakimi, the favourite for the award, after helping Paris Saint-Germain secure an incredible treble of the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France.
Osimehn won the 2023 CAF Mens player of the year and will hope to win again.
The ten-man shortlist also includes Fiston Mayele (DR Congo), Denis Bouanga (Congo), Oussama Lamloui (Morocco), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), and Frank Anguissa (Cameroon).
In the Goalkeeper of the Year (Men) category, Stanley Nwabali earns recognition for his commanding displays with Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and with Chippa United in the South African Premier Division.
He competes alongside André Onana (Cameroon), Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Edouard Mendy (Senegal), Ahmed El Shenawy (Egypt), Ronwen Williams (South Africa), Aymen Dahmen (Tunisia), Munir Mohamedi (Morocco), Vozinha (Cape Verde) and Marc Diouf (Senegal).
Photo Credit: CAF/X
Young defender Daniel Bameyi, captain of the Flying Eagles, is also in contention for Young Player of the Year (Men) after leading Nigeria at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, scoring twice during the tournament.
He faces competition from Houssam Essadak (Morocco), Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco), Othmane Maamma (Morocco), Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Alynho Haidara (Côte d’Ivoire), Tylon Smith (South Africa), Mbekezile Mbokazi (South Africa), and Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone).
READ MORE:somethings-not-right-ex-super-eagles-striker-questions-emmanuel-dennis-absence-from-club-football
The Interclub Player of the Year (Men) shortlist includes Ismaïl Belkacemi (Algeria), Blati Touré (Burkina Faso), Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso), Fiston Mayele (DR Congo), Emam Ashour (Egypt), Ibrahim Adel (Egypt), Mohamed Hrimat (Morocco), Mohamed Chibi (Morocco), Oussama Lamloui (Morocco), and Shomari Kapombe (Tanzania).
Photo Credit: CAF/X
In the National Team of the Year (Men) race, heavyweights Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Morocco U20, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia are in contention.
Morocco’s U20 team earned special recognition after their historic 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup victory the nation’s first at that level.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
The CAF Awards 2025 will honour Africa’s finest footballers, clubs, and national teams in a year that has once again showcased the continent’s immense talent on the global stage.
