CAF Player of the Year 2025 award nominees: read the 10-man shortlist

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the 10-man shortlist for the 2025 African Player of the Year award.

This prestigious honor, recognized as the continent’s highest individual accolade, celebrates the outstanding achievements of African footballers on both the global and continental stage. The 2025 list reflects the diverse and exceptional talent pool of the continent, featuring global superstars from Europe’s top leagues alongside standout performers from African and North American domestic competitions.

The 2025 Nominee Shortlist for CAF Men’s Player of the Year:

This year’s selection highlights players who have demonstrated remarkable consistency, skill, and impact for both their clubs and national teams. The 10 nominees are:

Analysis and Key Highlights

The 2025 shortlist presents a compelling mix of established icons and emerging forces in African football.

• The Global Superstars: The list is headlined by perennial contenders. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) remains a symbol of consistency in the English Premier League. He is joined by Achraf Hakimi (PSG), widely regarded as one of the world’s elite full-backs, and 2023 winner Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), who continues to be a formidable goal-scorer following his move to Turkey.
• The Premier League Contingent: The strength of the English Premier League is evident, with two rising Senegalese stars, Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham) and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), earning nominations for their dynamic midfield and attacking contributions.
• European League Performers: The Bundesliga is represented by Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund), whose goal-scoring exploits have captured international attention. From Serie A, Franck Anguissa (Napoli) is recognized for his powerful presence in the midfield.
• Spotlight on Domestic & Non-European Leagues: In a significant nod to talent outside of Europe, the list features players from three different continents. Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC) has earned his place through a prolific season in the MLS. Furthermore, CAF has recognized the quality of its own competitions by nominating Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC) for his impact in the Egyptian Premier League and Oussama El Miliaoui (RS Berkane), a standout performer in Morocco’s Botola Pro and CAF Confederation Cup.

As the football community begins to debate the merits of each candidate, the continent eagerly awaits the official awards gala. As of this report, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not yet announced the official date for the 2025 awards ceremony.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.