He will face fierce opposition from Mohamed Salah, a striker for Egypt and Liverpool, and Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Morocco.
poised to receive her third consecutive title, and Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade is also in the running for the Women’s Player of the Year title. The 2025 honor will be presented at a ceremony in Rabat, Morocco, today.
The event honors the best performers on the continent between January 6 and October 15, 2025.
On Sunday, Osimhen, Salah, and Hakimi were revealed as the men’s category finalists from a preliminary shortlist of ten players.
Osimhen, the 2023 winner, qualifies for this year’s award based on his club and national goals over the relevant time frame. In 41 games during the 2024–25 season,the Galatasaray striker contributed 37 goals and six assists, helping the team achieve a domestic double.
With 29 goals and 18 assists in 38 Premier League starts during the 2024–2025 season, Salah helped Liverpool win the league.
Right-hander Hakimi was exceptional as PSG won the UEFA Champions League, the French Ligue 1,the Coupe de France,the UEFA Super Cup, and advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Ajibade of Nigeria, who moved from Atletico Madrid Women to PSG and guided the Super Falcons to their tenth WAFCON championship, is among the top three finalists inthe women’s division, along with Ghizlaine Chebbak of Al Hilal and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR from Morocco.
In the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie will compete against South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi in an attempt to win the title for a third time in a row.
Her nomination follows a season of steady performances in goal for the Super Falcons and their former team, Paris FC.
their first championship in around 20 years before relocating to Brighton in the summer.
With five prizes up for grabs, Nigeria has been well represented at the awards during the past two editions.
with Ghana and Morocco, the Super Falcons are competing for Women’s National Team of the Year.
Along with Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye and Morocco’s Doha El Madani, Flamingos skipper Shakirat Moshood of Bayelsa Queens was selected for the Women’s Young Player of the Year shortlist.
Participation was justified, according to CAF, by its quick growth and influence in both domestic and continental events.
Before leading the Flamingos to the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, she was the highest goal scorer for the Prosperity Girls, who advanced to the WAFU B Zonal Champions League final despite losing to ASEC Mimosas in a penalty shootout.
