The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the three-man shortlist for the 2025 African Men’s Player of the Year award, naming Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, and Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah as the final contenders.
The trio headline the continent’s most prestigious football honour after another season filled with outstanding individual and team achievements. Softfootball can confirm that all three players have been key figures for club and country across the past year, each bringing a unique storyline into this year’s final vote.
The announcement was made via CAF’s official X handle on Sunday, they posted;
Hakimi, currently nursing an injury, delivered one of the greatest seasons of his career with Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old was instrumental as PSG completed an incredible treble winning the Ligue 1 title, the League Cup, and securing their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy. He was also central to PSG’s run to the final of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, where they finished runners-up to Chelsea.
Mohamed Salah, a two-time African Player of the Year and one of the continent’s most decorated forwards, also made the shortlist. The Egyptian endured difficult spells this season but still produced decisive contributions during Liverpool’s historic Premier League triumph last campaign, their 20th title, equalling Manchester United’s record.
Salah finished the 2024/25 season as the Premier League Golden Boot winner with 29 goals, six ahead of Alexander Isak. It is also worth noting that the Liverpool legend is a three-time PFA Player of the Year, solidifying his status as one of the greatest African players ever.
Victor Osimhen completes the shortlist after an electric year for both Galatasaray and the Nigerian national team. The striker has been in unstoppable form, although some of his recent achievements, including a Champions League hat-trick against Ajax and a brace in Nigeria’s World Cup playoff win over Gabon, fall outside the CAF judging deadline of October 15th and will not count towards the award.
Nevertheless, Osimhen remains in the spotlight as he hopes to lead Nigeria against DR Congo in the crucial CAF World Cup qualifiers, with the Super Eagles fighting to reach the intercontinental playoffs.
The CAF Men’s and Women’s Award Ceremony will take place in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, with coaches, former stars, media representatives and CAF technical committee members responsible for selecting the winners.
This year’s shortlist features three African icons at different stages of their careers but all deserving of the continent’s highest individual honour.
