The race for Africa’s top individual football honour has reached its climax, with CAF on Sunday unveiling the final three contenders for the 2025 Player of the Year awards. The men’s shortlist features three of the continent’s biggest stars: Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.

Osimhen, now at Galatasaray, is looking to reclaim the crown he won in 2023, while Salah seeks another chapter in his illustrious career with Liverpool. PSG’s Hakimi, a key figure for both club and country, completes a fiercely competitive trio battling for the continent’s most prestigious football accolade.

Nigeria also maintained a strong presence in the women’s category, where Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade earned a deserved spot among the final three nominees. The Atletico Madrid star is up against Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy, signalling a major North African push for the women’s award.

The winners will be announced at the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday, November 19.