CAF Awards 2025: Osimhen, Nwabali, and Bameyi Make Nigeria Proud with Key Nominations
Nigeria will be powerfully represented at the CAF Awards 2025, as Victor Osimhen, Stanley Nwabali, and Daniel Bameyi have all earned nominations in major categories following remarkable seasons for both club and country.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen leads the charge as one of the favourites for the Player of the Year (Men) award after a stunning debut campaign in Turkey. The 26-year-old scored 35 goals to fire Galatasaray to a famous League and Cup double.
Osimhen’s brilliant form puts him up against some of Africa’s biggest names, including Mohamed Salah, who inspired Liverpool to the Premier League title, and Achraf Hakimi, a key figure in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic treble-winning season which included the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France.
The Nigerian star, who won the CAF Player of the Year in 2023, is hoping to repeat the feat and cement his place among Africa’s all-time greats.
Other players shortlisted for the award include Fiston Mayele (DR Congo), Denis Bouanga (Congo), Oussama Lamloui (Morocco), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), and Frank Anguissa (Cameroon).
In the Goalkeeper of the Year (Men) category, Stanley Nwabali has been recognised for his outstanding form between the posts. The Chippa United goalkeeper impressed at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria reach the final, and continued his fine performances in the South African Premier Division.
Nwabali will compete against a strong list of goalkeepers, including André Onana (Cameroon), Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Edouard Mendy (Senegal), Ahmed El Shenawy (Egypt), Ronwen Williams (South Africa), Aymen Dahmen (Tunisia), Munir Mohamedi (Morocco), Vozinha (Cape Verde), and Marc Diouf (Senegal).
Nigeria’s promising young defender Daniel Bameyi, captain of the Flying Eagles, is also among the contenders for the Young Player of the Year (Men) award. Bameyi stood out at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, where he led Nigeria with maturity and scored twice during the tournament.
He faces tough competition from the likes of Houssam Essadak (Morocco), Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco), Othmane Maamma (Morocco), Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Alynho Haidara (Côte d’Ivoire), Tylon Smith (South Africa), Mbekezile Mbokazi (South Africa), and Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone).
The Interclub Player of the Year (Men) category features several standout performers from African club competitions, including Ismaïl Belkacemi (Algeria), Blati Touré (Burkina Faso), Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso), Fiston Mayele (DR Congo), Emam Ashour (Egypt), Ibrahim Adel (Egypt), Mohamed Hrimat (Morocco), Mohamed Chibi (Morocco), Oussama Lamloui (Morocco), and Shomari Kapombe (Tanzania).
In the National Team of the Year (Men) category, powerhouses Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Morocco U20, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia have all made the shortlist.
Morocco’s U20 team received special mention after making history by winning the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, their first ever title at that level.
The CAF Awards 2025 will celebrate Africa’s finest footballers, clubs, and national teams, honouring a year that has once again showcased the continent’s rich football talent on the global stage.
