Africa’s Player of the Year 2025: 10 stars duel for the continent’s crown
22 October 2025
The Contenders for Africa’s Player of the Year
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially revealed this year’s nominees for Africa’s top footballer award. Details on the ceremony date and venue are still to be announced, with Morocco widely tipped to host once more after last year’s show. The event, whenever it comes, is shaping up to be a true showcase of African talent.
A fierce battle for the crown is on
The list is led by Morocco’s Ashraf Hakimi of Paris Saint‑Germain, the European champion with a sparkle of continental pride. Also featured is Morocco’s Osama Al‑Melai, a rising star alongside Egyptian Mohamed Salah, who enjoyed a remarkable season with Liverpool, finishing as Premier League top scorer and top assister while lifting the league trophy. The shortlist also includes Cameroonian Franck Anguissa (Napoli), Ivorian Vis ton Maile (Pyramids), and Guinean Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund).
Other names include Denis Bouanga (Gabon), Victor Osimhen (Napoli), and Pape Sarr plus Eliman Ndiaye, both of whom have helped showcase Africa’s depth of talent this season. The roster also features Seydou Guirassy, Ismaïl Belkasmî, and Ismail Ben Abdallah variants in the broader context of the awards race.
Goalkeepers and more in the spotlight
CAF also listed the Best Goalkeeper nominees, with Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (often known as Bono) highlighted alongside Edouard Mendy and other standout keepers from the continent. The list includes Egyptian and Tunisian shot‑stoppers, plus South African and Nigerian custodians who have shone at club level this year. It’s a testament to Africa’s wealth of talent between the posts as well as on the pitch.
Beyond the player of the year, CAF’s broader nominations include the Best Coach, with Moroccan tacticians Walid Regragui and Tarik Sckitioui among those named, alongside other celebrated coaches from Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. The award for Best Young Talent also draws a strong field, featuring ten hopefuls from Morocco, South Africa, and West Africa, among others.
Continent-wide honors and Arab world representation
The list of nominees for the Best Player on the Continent highlights four stars from the league champions, plus players from the Egyptian league and North Africa’s growing crop of talents. The coaches’ shortlist, which includes Moroccan and Tunisian names, reflects a robust period for North African football while underlining the continent’s broad talent pool. CAF’s selections also salute Arab world influence, with several teams from the region contributing players and coaches to the mix.
Additionally, CAF named potential qualifiers for the Best National Team honor, with Morocco’s senior side and the Moroccan youth squads among those highlighted as recent global‑level performers. The awards are set to celebrate both established giants and rising stars as Africa continues to develop its footballing identity across leagues from Cairo to Casablanca to Dakar.
The final word on the ceremony and the race
In sum, Africa’s Player of the Year race promises drama, drama, and more drama—without even knowing where the ceremony will occur yet. Morocco could again host, or the venue might shift. Either way, the continent’s best will be decided by an elite panel and the votes of coaches, captains, and fans who follow the game with passion and humorous memes alike.
As the debate rages, remember: if you can pronounce all those names correctly, you’ve already earned a seat at the ceremony. And if not, just cheer and pretend you did—there’s always next year for a perfect mispronunciation medal. Punchline time: the trophy might be heavy, but so is the list of contenders, and I’d still bet on Hakimi’s dribbles to steal the show. And if Salah scores again, the trophy might need a bigger stand—talk about a strong build‑up to the show!
