CAF narrows 2025 African Player of the Year shortlist to final three

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the final three nominees for the 2025 African Player of the Year award, cutting down the original 10-man shortlist to a star-studded trio.

The shortlist for this year’s award includes:

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool)

• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain)

• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria – Galatasaray)

This trio recreates the same final shortlist from 2023, when the award was ultimately won by Victor Osimhen following a standout year.

CAF’s initial list of ten contenders featured some of the continent’s standout performers across Europe, Africa, and the United States. The full preliminary shortlist included:

1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool, England)

2. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain, France)

3. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria – Galatasaray, Turkey)

4. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea – Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

5. Franck Anguissa (Cameroon – Napoli, Italy)

6. Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal – Tottenham Hotspur, England)

7. Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal – Everton, England)

8. Denis Bouanga (Gabon – Los Angeles FC, USA)

9. Fiston Mayele (DR Congo – Pyramids FC, Egypt)

10. Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco – RS Berkane, Morocco)

The awards ceremony for the CAF Awards 2025 will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, November 19, where Africa’s best footballers and coaches will be honoured.

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