Victor Osimhen, winner of the 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award, is set for another intense battle as he faces strong competition from Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi for the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year honour at tonight’s ceremony in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria is heavily represented across categories, with Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also shortlisted for major awards. The ceremony celebrates Africa’s finest performers from January 6 to October 15, 2025.
Osimhen, Salah, Hakimi in final three
Osimhen’s nomination follows a stellar season with Galatasaray, where he scored 37 goals and six assists in 41 matches, helping the Turkish giants secure a domestic double.
Salah, meanwhile, fired 29 goals and 18 assists to lead Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Hakimi enters the race after an exceptional season with PSG, during which he won the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, UEFA Super Cup, and reached the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Ajibade, Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s women’s charge
In the women’s category, Ajibade—now with PSG—heads into the top three for Women’s Player of the Year, alongside Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak (Al Hilal) and Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR). The Nigerian forward captained the Super Falcons to a historic 10th WAFCON title.
Nnadozie seeks her third consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after an outstanding run with Paris FCbefore her move to Brighton. She will contest the award with Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini.
More Nigerian nominations
Nigeria also features prominently in other categories:
Super Falcons — Women’s National Team of the Year finalists alongside Ghana and Morocco.
Shakirat Moshood — shortlisted for Women’s Young Player of the Year after impressing for Bayelsa Queensand captaining Nigeria’s Flamingos at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria could secure up to five awards tonight, reflecting the country’s growing dominance in African football.
