CAF Awards 2025: Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen to battle Mo Salah, Hakimi, 7 others for Player of the Year

Super Eagles Striker Victor Osimhen is Nigeria's Sole Contender Among 10 Nominees for Africa's Top Football Honour, Facing Heavyweights Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially released the 10-man shortlist for the prestigious 2025 Men's Player of the Year award on Wednesday, setting the stage for a compelling battle between three of the continent's biggest stars: Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.

The list confirms Osimhen, a formidable striker for Galatasaray (on loan from Napoli last season), as Nigeria's lone representative for the top men's prize, with reigning champion Ademola Lookman not making the final cut.

The Contenders: Goal Machines and Trophy Winners

The race for the 2025 title is heavily influenced by sensational club seasons. Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool maestro, put up staggering numbers, securing the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker Award after netting 29 league goals and providing 18 assists in the just-concluded season.

His club season was capped by helping Liverpool clinch the Premier League title.Matching him for sheer silverware is Achraf Hakimi, the attacking right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, who enjoyed an incredible quadruple-winning campaign that included the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions.

Hakimi's attacking output was exceptional for a defender, registering an impressive nine goals and 14 assists across all competitions.

Nigeria’s flag-bearer, Victor Osimhen, also had a prolific season, leading Galatasaray to a domestic double, the Turkish Süper Lig and the Turkish Cup.

The Nigerian finished the season with a remarkable 37 goals and eight assists in all competitions, earning him the Turkish league’s Player of the Season award.

Full Shortlist and Notable Absences

The CAF shortlist features 10 players, drawing a tight focus on the continent's top-performing elite.

Morocco and Senegal lead the pack with two nominees each (Hakimi and Oussama; Sarr and Ndiaye), while Nigeria, Egypt, Guinea, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon each have a single representative.

Notably absent from the list are several high-profile players who were in contention, including Ghana's duo of Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo, and Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo.

The Trophy vs. The Goals

The 2025 award presents a fascinating debate: should the award favour the player who amassed the most significant silverware, like Hakimi's Champions League triumph, or the one with the most explosive individual statistics, as with Salah and Osimhen's goal tallies?

Last year’s winner, Ademola Lookman, was crowned largely on the back of his UEFA Europa League final heroics for Atalanta, suggesting that a defining continental moment can outweigh seasonal consistency.

This makes Hakimi's role in PSG's Champions League win a compelling argument for his case.

For Nigeria, Osimhen’s nomination is a major boost of morale, confirming his status among the elite despite the national team’s mixed results this year.

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