Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade Among Finalists For 2025 CAF Player of the Year Awards
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade have been named among the finalists for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year awards, with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Bayelsa Queens forward Shakirat Moshood also earning recognition in their respective categories.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the final shortlist on Sunday ahead of the gala ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, in Rabat, Morocco. The awards honour the continent’s top performers for the period between January 6 and October 15, 2025.
On the men’s side, Osimhen, who has been in impressive form at Galatasaray, joins Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain as finalists for the CAF African Player of the Year award.
Osimhen’s inclusion continues Nigeria’s strong presence in the men’s category, following Ademola Lookman in 2024 and Osimhen himself in 2023.
In the Women’s Player of the Year category, Rasheedat Ajibade, who played a pivotal role for Paris Saint-Germain and led the Super Falcons to their 10th WAFCON title, is shortlisted alongside Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak of Al Hilal and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR.
CAF praised the finalists for their exceptional performances for both club and country throughout the season.
The 2025 CAF Awards will celebrate individual excellence as well as the achievements of clubs and national teams, shining a spotlight on players and coaches who have made a significant impact on African football over the past year. Nigeria’s strong representation across multiple categories underscores the country’s growing influence and the depth of its talent on the continental stage.
