2025 CAF Awards: Full shortlist of nominees for African Player of the Year and other top men’s categories

The Confederation of African Football has unveiled the nominees in the men’s categories for the 2025 CAF Awards, celebrating the continent’s top performers among players, coaches, clubs and national teams.

The impact of players and coaches on the African and global game has been immense for the period under consideration of 6 January to 15 October 2025.

These nominations reflect those who have made major contributions to football on the continent. ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])A panel of experts—made up of CAF Technical & Development Committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends and selected media representatives decided on 10 nominees for each category, considering performance in all.

MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Cameroon’s André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli) and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) headline the nominees following commanding seasons with their clubs and countries. Also included is DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), whose prolific scoring powered his club to the CAF Champions League title, along with Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) and Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye (Everton). ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])Nominees:* André-Frank Zambo-Anguissa (Cameroon / Napoli)* Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids)* Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)* Denis Bouanga (Gabon / Los Angeles FC)* Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)* Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)* Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco / RS Berkane)* Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)* Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal / Everton)* Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal / Tottenham Hotspur)

MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEART

he goalkeeper category features both international experience and rising stars. Morocco’s Yassine Bonou (Al Hilal) is highlighted, alongside Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United) and title-holder Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns). ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])Nominees:* André Onana (Cameroon / Trabzonspor)* Vozinha (Cape Verde / Chaves)* Ahmed El Shenawy (Egypt / Pyramids)* Munir Mohamedi (Morocco / RS Berkane)* Yassine Bonou (Morocco / Al Hilal)* Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria / Chippa United)* Edouard Mendy (Senegal / Al Ahli)* Marc Diouf (Senegal / Tengueth)* Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)* Aymen Dahmen (Tunisia / CS Sfaxien) ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])

MEN’S INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nominations are dominated by players from Pyramids FC and RS Berkane, reflecting standout campaigns in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])Nominees:* Ismaïl Belkacemi (Algeria / Al Ahli Tripoli)* Blati Touré (Burkina Faso / Pyramids FC)* Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso / RS Berkane)* Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids)* Ahmed Samy (Egypt / Pyramids)* Emam Ashour (Egypt / Al Ahly)* Ibrahim Adel (Egypt / Pyramids)* Mohamed Hrimat (Morocco / AS FAR)* Mohamed Chibi (Morocco / Pyramids)* Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco / RS Berkane)* Shomari Kapombe (Tanzania / Simba) ([Vanguard News]

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

A diverse mix of tacticians represent the continent’s best football minds. Cape Verde’s Bubista is recognised for guiding his team’s rise in African football and World Cup qualification, while Egypt’s Hossam Hassan and Morocco’s Walid Regragui remain favourites after successful periods. ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])Nominees:* Bubista (Cape Verde)* Hossam Hassan (Egypt)* Krunoslav Jurcic (Pyramids)* Sami Trabelsi (Tunisia)* Romuald Rakotondrabe (Madagascar CHAN)* Moine Chaabani (RS Berkane)* Tarik Sektioui (Morocco CHAN)* Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20)* Walid Regragui (Morocco)* Pape Thiaw (Senegal) ([Confédération Africaine de Football][1])

MEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Highlighting the continent’s next generation of stars, the Young Player category features emerging talents who impressed for club and country. ([Morocco World News][3])Nominees:* Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso / Real du Faso)* Alynho Haidara (Ivory Coast / Mainz 05 Jacqueville)* Noah Sadiki (DR Congo / Sunderland)* Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco / Ajax)* Houssam Essadak (Morocco / US Touarga)* Othmane Maamma (Morocco / Watford)* Daniel Bameyi (Nigeria / Primorje)* Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone / Minnesota United)* Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa / Orlando Pirates)* Tylon Smith (South Africa / Queens Park Rangers).