CAF AWARDS
Morocco Dominates as CAF Unveils 2025 Men’s Awards Nominees, Nigeria Barely Featured
By Kunle Solaja.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the shortlist for the 2025 CAF Awards (Men’s Categories) — and it is Morocco that has emerged as the overwhelming powerhouse of African football, dominating the nominations across almost every category.
From players and coaches to clubs and national teams, Morocco’s presence is unmatched, reflecting the country’s sustained investment and success at all levels of the game. Meanwhile, Nigeria, one of Africa’s traditional football giants, finds itself with only three representatives on the list — a modest showing compared to Morocco’s widespread recognition.
Morocco’s Widespread Representation
Morocco’s dominance cuts across the entire spectrum of African football. The Atlas Lions and their U-20 team are both nominated for National Team of the Year, underlining the country’s depth at both senior and youth levels.
On the Player of the Year list, Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi and RS Berkane’s Oussama Lamlioui fly the Moroccan flag, joined by other African luminaries such as Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.
Morocco’s continental clubs also made a clean sweep in the Interclub Player and Club of the Year categories. RS Berkane and AS FAR feature prominently alongside Egyptian giants Pyramids and Al Ahly, reflecting Moroccan clubs’ continued excellence in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
In coaching, Walid Regragui, who guided Morocco to historic World Cup and AFCON campaigns, is joined by fellow countrymen Tarik Sektioui, Moine Chaabani, and Mohamed Ouahbi, underscoring Morocco’s strong coaching pipeline.
Young Moroccan talents also dominate the Men’s Young Player of the Year list, with Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax), Othmane Maamma (Watford), and Houssam Essadak (US Touarga) among the continent’s brightest prospects.
Overall, Morocco secured more than a dozen nominations across categories — far ahead of any other nation — cementing its reputation as the new benchmark for football development in Africa.
Nigeria’s Limited Presence
In sharp contrast, Nigeria — a perennial football heavyweight — earned just three nominations. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) made the shortlist for Player of the Year, while Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United) earned a well-deserved nod in the Goalkeeper of the Year category for his AFCON heroics. Young defender Daniel Bameyi (NK Primorje, Slovenia) was listed among the Young Player of the Year nominees.
Conspicuously missing from the list are the Super Eagles, who failed to make the National Team of the Year shortlist despite finishing as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt and South Africa Also Strongly Represented
Behind Morocco, Egypt and South Africa also posted strong showings. Egyptian clubs Pyramids FC and Al Ahly dominated interclub categories, while South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and national team players featured prominently across multiple lists.
CAF Awards 2025: Setting the Stage
CAF said the nominations were drawn from performances between 6 January and 15 October 2025, selected by a panel of its Technical & Development Committee, CAF Legends, coaches, and media representatives.
Winners will be announced at the CAF Awards Gala 2025, to be held later this year at a venue yet to be confirmed.
As the countdown begins, Morocco’s sweeping nominations underscore a remarkable football renaissance — while Nigeria, despite its rich pedigree, will be hoping its few nominees can salvage pride on Africa’s biggest football awards night.
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Moroccan international and national team captain Achraf Hakimi has been crowned African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards held on Wednesday in Rabat, becoming the first defender in 52 years to win the continent’s most prestigious individual honour.
Hakimi, who plays as a right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, finished ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen in the final voting. His triumph marks a historic moment for Moroccan football, making him the first player from the North African nation to win the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, and the first defender to be recognised since Zaire centre-back Bwanga Tshimen in 1973.
The 2025 season was one of the best of Hakimi’s career, with the 26-year-old enjoying a trophy-filled year at PSG. He played a key role in the club’s successes across four competitions — the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the UEFA Super Cup — achievements that strengthened his case as Africa’s standout footballer.
“It is really a proud moment for me to win this prestigious award,” Hakimi said during his acceptance speech. “This trophy is not just for me, but for all the strong men and women who have dreams of being a footballer in Africa. And for those that always believed in me since I was a child… I would like to thank them all.”
Morocco Dominates the Night
Hakimi’s win headlined a night in which Morocco asserted its growing influence in African football by sweeping several major categories.
Saudi-based forward Ghizlane Chebbak was named Women’s Footballer of the Year, adding to her growing list of accolades as one of the continent’s most consistent players.
In the men’s category, Yassine Bounou, the Al-Hilal and Atlas Lions goalkeeper, was crowned Goalkeeper of the Year, further underlining Morocco’s remarkable depth across both men’s and women’s football.
Nigeria’s Nnadozie Extends Her Reign
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time, continuing her dominance since the category’s introduction in 2023. The 24-year-old, who recently sealed a transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Women’s Super League, remains one of Africa’s most formidable goalkeepers.
Cape Verde Earns Historic Recognition
The Coach of the Year award went to Cape Verde’s Bubista, who guided the island nation to a milestone achievement — their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup, set for 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. His win marks a significant moment for Cape Verdean football, symbolising the continent’s growing diversity at the highest level of competition.
The 2025 CAF Awards showcased not only individual brilliance but also the rising competitive strength across African football, with Morocco emerging as the night’s biggest winner.
All the Winners
African Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain) – Winner
Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Al Hilal) – Winner
Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids) – Winner
Men’s Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde) – Winner
Young African Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Morocco / Watford) – Winner
Men’s National Team of the Year: Morocco U-20 – Winner
Men’s Club of the Year: Pyramids FC – Winner
African Women’s Player of the Year: Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco / Al Hilal) – Winner
African Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Brighton & Hove Albion) – Winner.
Young African Women’s Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR) – Winner
Women’s National Team: Nigeria – Winner
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Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie has cemented her status as Africa’s top shot-stopper after winning the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time at the CAF Awards 2025 held on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
The accolade, presented at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, extends Nnadozie’s dominance in a category introduced only in 2023 — and one she has ruled unchallenged since its inception.
Nnadozie’s latest honour comes on the back of a remarkable year for both club and country. She played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s historic 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations triumph on July 26 at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, where she was named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament and earned a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Her rising global profile was further underscored earlier in the year when she finished 5th in the inaugural Yashin Trophy for women at the France Football Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony — the highest-ever placement by an African goalkeeper.
With this latest CAF crown, the 24-year-old continues to strengthen her reputation as a continental and global benchmark in women’s goalkeeping.
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By Kunle Solaja.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will honour the continent’s brightest football stars this Wednesday, as the prestigious CAF Awards return to Morocco.
The ceremony, scheduled for 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT), will be held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Rabat.
Created to recognise excellence in African football, the CAF Awards spotlight both individual brilliance and collective achievement across male and female categories. The event celebrates players, coaches, clubs, national teams, and emerging talents who have made a significant impact over the past year.
This year’s ceremony will be co-hosted by Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo and Moroccan comedian Oualass, adding a blend of continental artistry and humour to the gala.
Guests will also enjoy performances by Moroccan singer Douaa Lahyaoui, Congolese legend Awilo Longomba, and Ghanaian Afrobeats star Fuse ODG.
A total of 12 categories will be presented on the night, including the headline honours of African Player of the Year and African Women’s Player of the Year.
However, due to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, the winners for Women’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, and Women’s Club of the Year will be announced at a later date.
CAF has also unveiled the top three nominees across several categories:
Men’s Categories
African Player of the Year:
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray)
Goalkeeper of the Year:
Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al Hilal), Munir Mohamedi (Morocco/RS Berkane), Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Interclub Player of the Year:
Mohamed Chibi (Morocco/Pyramids), Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane), Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
Men’s Coach of the Year:
Bubista (Cape Verde), Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20), Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Young Player of the Year:
Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford), Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax), Tylon Smith (South Africa/QPR)
Men’s National Team of the Year:
Cape Verde, Morocco, Morocco U-20
Men’s Club of the Year:
Mamelodi Sundowns, Pyramids, RS Berkane
Women’s Categories
African Women’s Player of the Year:
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria/PSG), Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal), Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year:
Andile Dlamini (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco/AS FAR), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Brighton)
Young Women’s Player of the Year:
Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Nigeria/Bayelsa Queens), Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR), Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
Women’s National Team:
Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria
With Morocco heavily represented across numerous categories and hosting the ceremony for another year, anticipation is high as the continent awaits the crowning of Africa’s football royalty.
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