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Nominees in the Men’s categories for CAF Awards 2025 announced

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The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has unveiled the nominees in the Men’s Categories for the CAF Awards 2025, celebrating the continent’s top performers among players, coaches, clubs and national teams.

The impact of players and coaches on the African and global game has been immense for the period under consideration of 6 January to 15 October 2025, and these nominations reflect those who have made major contributions to football on the continent.

A panel of experts made up of CAF Technical & Development Committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends and selected media representatives decided on 10 nominees for each category considering the performance in all competitions.


MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Cameroon’s Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah headline the nominees following commanding seasons with Napoli and Liverpool respectively, as well as their national teams.
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids), whose prolific scoring powered his club to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title, is also in the mix, along with the likes of Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray) and Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal/Everton).

Nominees:

  • Andre Frank Zambo-Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli)
  • Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
  • Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool) 
  • Denis Bouanga (Gabon/Los Angeles FC)
  • Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund)
  • Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane)
  • Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray)
  • Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal/Everton)
  • Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal/Tottenham Hotspur)


MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

A blend of international experience and emerging stars defines the goalkeeper category. Yassine Bonou (Morocco/Al Hilal) headlines a star-studded list having been a consistent performer for club and country, while Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria/Chippa United) and title holder Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) are other nominees.

 

Nominees:

  • Andre Onana (Cameroon/Trabzonspor) 
  • Vozinha (Cape Verde/Chaves)
  • Ahmed El Shenawy (Egypt/Pyramids)
  • Munir Mohamedi (Morocco/RS Berkane)
  • Yassine Bonou (Morocco/Al Hilal)
  • Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria/Chippa United)
  • Edouard Mendy (Senegal/Al Ahli)
  • Marc Diouf (Senegal/Tengueth)
  • Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
  • Aymen Dahmen (Tunisia/CS Sfaxien)


MEN’S INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Nominations are dominated by Pyramids FC and RS Berkane players. Algeria’s Ismael Belkacemi (USM Alger) and Burkina Faso’s Blati Touré (Pyramids FC) headline the list, alongside Oussama Lamlioui (RS Berkane), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane), and Emam Ashour (Al Ahly). The nominations reflect standout campaigns in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup for Pyramids and Berkane.

Nominees:

  • Ismael Belkacemi (Algeria/Al Ahli Tripoli)
  • Blati Toure (Burkina Faso/Pyramids FC)
  • Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso/RS Berkane)
  • Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
  • Ahmed Samy (Egypt/Pyramids)
  • Emam Ashour (Egypt/Al Ahly)
  • Ibrahim Adel (Egypt/Pyramids)
  • Mohamed Hrimat (Morocco/AS FAR)
  • Mohamed Chibi (Morocco/Pyramids)
  • Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane)
  • Shomari Kapombe (Tanzania/Simba)


MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

A diverse mix of tacticians represent the continent’s best football minds. Bubista (Cape Verde) is recognised for guiding his team’s continued rise in African football and FIFA World Cup qualification, while Hossam Hassan (Egypt) and Walid Regragui (Morocco) are again among the favourites after leading their teams through successful periods. Other nominees include Krunoslav Jurcic (Pyramids FC), Tarik Sektioui (Morocco CHAN) and Pape Thiaw (Senegal).

Nominees:

  • Bubista (Cape Verde)
  • Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
  • Krunoslav Jurcic (Pyramids)
  • Sami Trabelsi (Tunisia)
  • Romuald Rakotondrabe (Madagascar CHAN)
  • Moine Chaabani (RS Berkane)
  • Tarik Sektioui (Morocco CHAN)
  • Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20)
  • Walid Regragui (Morocco)
  • Pape Thiaw (Senegal)

 

MEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CAF’s future stars are showcased through a promising lineup of emerging talents. Burkina Faso’s Asharaf Tapsoba (Real du Faso) and Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax) headline the category. Rising South African prospects Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates) and Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers) also feature among the top 10.

Nominees:

  • Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso/Real du Faso)
  • Alynho Haidara (Cote d’Ivoire/ Mainz 05 Jacqueville)
  • Noah Sadiki (DR Congo/Sunderland)
  • Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax)
  • Houssam Essadak (Morocco/US Touarga)
  • Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford)
  • Daniel Bameyi (Nigeria/Primorje)
  • Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone/Minnesota United)
  • Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa/Orlando Pirates)
  • Tylon Smith (South Africa/Queens Park Rangers)

 

MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

The national team list reflects African football’s growing competitiveness. Morocco, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cape Verde lead the way following strong performances in qualifiers and major tournaments.

Nominees:

  • Algeria 
  • Cape Verde
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Egypt
  • Ghana
  • Morocco U-20
  • Morocco
  • Senegal
  • South Africa
  • Tunisia

 

MEN’S CLUB OF THE YEAR

Dominant forces from across the continent complete the nominations. Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates represent South Africa’s resurgence, while RS Berkane (Morocco) and Pyramids FC (Egypt) are recognised for continental success. Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and CS Constantine also feature on the list.

Nominees:

  • CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
  • CS Constantine (Algeria)
  • ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
  • Pyramids (Egypt)
  • RS Berkane (Morocco)
  • Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
  • Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
  • Stellenbosch (South Africa)
  • Al Hilal (Sudan)
  • Simba (Tanzania)