The race for the 2025 CAF African Men’s Player of the Year award has narrowed to three standout stars, with Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Mohamed Salah of Egypt officially confirmed as the finalists.
The Confederation of African Football released the announcement on Sunday, marking the final stage of one of the continent’s most followed football honours.
Hakimi, who is currently recovering from injury, played a decisive role in Paris Saint Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League triumph and was equally influential as the French giants finished second behind Chelsea at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
At 27, he is expected to lead Morocco when they host the Africa Cup of Nations later this year as they chase their first continental title since 1976.
Salah, a two time winner of the award, endured a quiet run in recent months but remains a strong contender due to his remarkable contributions to Liverpool’s record equalling twentieth Premier League title last season.
The 33 year old also secured the Premier League Golden Boot with twenty nine goals, finishing well above Alexander Isak who later joined Liverpool from Newcastle United.
Osimhen, who has been in brilliant form for Galatasaray and Nigeria, is also in contention, although some of his recent achievements fall outside the nomination window.
The News Chronicle gathered that his Champions League hat trick against Ajax in Amsterdam and his two goals in Nigeria’s World Cup play off win over Gabon came after the voting deadline of October fifteen and will therefore not count toward the award.
On the women’s side, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade, Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy complete the final shortlist. Ajibade was voted the standout performer at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after leading Nigeria to a dramatic comeback victory against hosts Morocco. Chebbak finished as the top scorer with five goals, while Mssoudy has been instrumental in FAR Rabat’s emergence as a dominant force in African women’s football.
The winners for both the men’s and women’s categories will be unveiled during the CAF Awards ceremony scheduled for Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
