Nigeria has secured strong representation in the final shortlist for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year honours, with Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade making the elite list of nominees.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Bayelsa Queens forward Shakirat Moshood also earned spots among Africa’s top performers, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Confederation of African Football unveiled the final shortlist on Sunday ahead of the award ceremony billed for Wednesday, November 19, in Rabat, Morocco. The event will celebrate standout achievements recorded between January 6 and October 15, 2025.
In the men’s category, Osimhen—currently impressing at Galatasaray—joins Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi as the final contenders for the CAF African Player of the Year award. His inclusion maintains Nigeria’s steady run in the category, following Ademola Lookman’s emergence in 2024 and Osimhen’s own triumph in 2023.
For the Women’s Player of the Year accolade, Nigeria’s Ajibade, who features for Paris Saint-Germain and played a pivotal role in leading the Super Falcons to their 10th WAFCON title, stands alongside Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak of Al Hilal and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR. CAF noted that all shortlisted players delivered remarkable performances for both club and country within the review window.
In the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nnadozie—now with Brighton & Hove Albion—is listed with Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Her nomination follows a season highlighted by consistent shot-stopping for Paris FC and key contributions to the Super Falcons.
Moshood of Bayelsa Queens secured her place among the finalists for the Women’s Young Player of the Year award, joining Morocco’s Doha El Madani and Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye. CAF cited her impressive growth and influence across local and continental competitions as major factors in her selection. She guided the Prosperity Girls to the WAFU B Zonal Champions League final—where they narrowly lost on penalties to ASEC Mimosas—finished as the tournament’s top scorer, and later captained the Flamingos to the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
CAF confirmed that additional award categories, such as the Women’s Coach of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, and Club of the Year, will be revealed after the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League Egypt 2025 concludes. Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu is anticipated to rank prominently among the coaching finalists.
For the Women’s Team of the Year shortlist, Ghana, Morocco, and Nigeria were recognised for notable outings across continental tournaments during the period under review.
CAF explained that the nominees were chosen by a panel comprising technical and development committee members, seasoned coaches, CAF Legends, and selected media professionals, who evaluated contributions across club and international competitions.
As the 2025 CAF Awards draw closer, the ceremony aims to spotlight individual brilliance and celebrate the collective progress of African football. Nigeria’s strong presence across major categories reflects the nation’s deep talent pool and rising impact on the continent’s football landscape.
What you should know
Nigeria’s presence across several major CAF Awards categories highlights the country’s footballing depth, with stars like Osimhen, Ajibade, Nnadozie, and Moshood earning continental recognition for exceptional performances.
The 2025 CAF Awards will honour the best players, coaches, and teams in African football, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence on the sport.
