CAF announces top 10 nominees for prestigious African award
The race for the 2025 African Player of the Year is officially underway, with football stars Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain leading a strong shortlist of 10 nominees. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the finalists on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
Salah, a two-time winner of the award, and Hakimi, a first-time hopeful, are the early frontrunners after stellar performances for both club and country. Their nominations follow impressive rankings in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, where Salah placed fourth and Hakimi sixth — the highest among African players.
Salah aims for a third title, Hakimi eyes first
Mohamed Salah, the captain of Egypt and talismanic forward for Liverpool FC, is no stranger to the African Player of the Year spotlight. He won the title back-to-back in 2017 and 2018, and now seeks a third crown after another consistent season in the Premier League and for his national team.
Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi, the dynamic right-back from Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain, is aiming to clinch his first-ever African Player of the Year accolade. Known for his pace, technical ability, and influence at both ends of the pitch, Hakimi has cemented his status as one of the best defenders in world football.
Premier League well represented among nominees
Aside from Salah, two other Premier League stars made the list — both hailing from Senegal. Pape Matar Sarr, the rising midfield engine at Tottenham Hotspur, and Iliman Ndiaye, the agile forward at Everton, are among the nominees. Their inclusion highlights the growing influence of young African talent in top European leagues.
African-based talents earn recognition
Notably, two of the 10 nominees currently play for clubs within Africa — a testament to the increasing competitiveness of domestic leagues on the continent.
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Fiston Mayele, a Congolese forward playing for Egyptian club Pyramids FC, helped his side clinch the CAF Champions League title and has been a consistent goal threat.
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Oussama Lamlioui, representing Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, is another prolific scorer who has excelled in the Moroccan top flight and continental competitions.
Their presence among Europe-based stars reinforces CAF’s efforts to celebrate excellence regardless of the league or location.
Osimhen returns, Lookman misses out
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s star striker currently playing for Galatasaray in Turkey, has once again made the shortlist after winning the 2023 edition. Despite battling injuries for parts of the year, his performances at both club and international level remained impactful.
Surprisingly, Ademola Lookman, who won the award last year after a stellar season, was omitted from the 2025 list. The decision has stirred debate among fans and analysts, but CAF has not commented on the omission.
Selection process and expert panel
CAF revealed that the nominees were selected by a panel consisting of:
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Members of the CAF Technical and Development Committee
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Coaches and captains of national teams
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Former African football stars
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Selected media representatives
The final winner will be determined through a voting process involving these groups.
Full list of 2025 African Player of the Year nominees
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Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)
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Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
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Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)
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Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal / Tottenham Hotspur)
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Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal / Everton)
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Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon / Napoli)
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Denis Bouanga (Gabon / Los Angeles FC)
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Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)
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Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids FC)
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Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco / Renaissance Berkane)
When will the winner be announced?
The winner of the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year is expected to be revealed at the annual CAF Awards Gala, scheduled to take place in December. The event will gather football stakeholders, legends, and dignitaries to honour the best talents in African football.
As anticipation builds, fans across the continent and beyond will be watching closely to see who will claim this year’s highest individual honour in African football.
