Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah headline the 10-man shortlist for the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year Award, as announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Moroccan star Hakimi enjoyed a stellar season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), helping the French giants claim a domestic league and cup double, as well as lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy.
Meanwhile, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah powered Liverpool to reclaim the English Premier League title, finishing as the league’s top scorer and earning his fourth Golden Boot.
Full List of 2025 CAF African Player of the Year Nominees
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / PSG)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)
- Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal / Everton)
- Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal / Tottenham Hotspur)
- Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon / Napoli)
- Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids FC)
- Denis Bouanga (Gabon / Los Angeles FC)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / VfB Stuttgart)
- Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco / Al-Ahly SC)
Salah, a two-time winner (2017 and 2018), is bidding to reclaim the crown, while Hakimi, who finished runner-up in the last two editions, hopes to finally clinch his first title.
Notably, 2024 winner Ademola Lookman misses out on this year’s shortlist despite a strong season with Atalanta.
The nominations were selected by a CAF-appointed panel of football experts, who considered performances from January 6 to October 15, 2025, evaluating players, coaches, and teams that made “a significant impact” across domestic and international competitions.
Cape Verde’s head coach Bubista earned a nomination for CAF Men’s Coach of the Year after guiding the Blue Sharks to their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification.
The Cape Verde national team is also shortlisted for Men’s National Team of the Year, alongside Morocco, whose U-20 squad recently captured the FIFA Under-20 World Cup title.
On the women’s side, Nigeria’s Esther Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade feature among the nominees for the 2025 CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award, announced last week.
CAF has not yet confirmed the official date or venue for the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony, where Africa’s best players, coaches, and national teams will be honored.
Fans across the continent eagerly await to see whether Hakimi, Salah, or another rising star will be crowned Africa’s Best Footballer for 2025.
