The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the nominees for the prestigious 2025 CAF Awards, setting the stage for a grand ceremony to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, this December. Nigeria boasts a strong presence among the continent's football elite, with several key players receiving nominations for their exceptional performances over the past year.

Leading the Nigerian contingent is forward Victor Osimhen, who has been nominated for the highly coveted CAF Men’s Player of the Year award. Osimhen’s remarkable season with Galatasaray saw him achieve a domestic double, securing both the Turkish Süper Lig and the Turkish Cup. Individually, he was a prolific scorer, claiming the Turkish Süper Lig Golden Boot with 26 goals and contributing an impressive total of 37 goals and eight assists across all competitions. His outstanding contributions also earned him the Turkish league’s Player of the Season award. This marks a return to contention for Osimhen, who previously won this esteemed award in 2023.

However, Osimhen faces formidable competition from a stellar lineup of Africa’s top talents. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool enters the race with staggering numbers, having secured the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker Award, along with helping Liverpool clinch the Premier League title. Achraf Hakimi, the attacking right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, also presents a compelling case, having enjoyed an incredible quadruple-winning campaign that included the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions, alongside nine goals and 14 assists. Other strong contenders include Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, Napoli’s Frank Anguissa, Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr, and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga. The debate for the award often centers on whether individual goal tallies or significant team silverware holds more weight, making Hakimi’s Champions League triumph a strong argument.

Notably, last year's winner, Nigerian attacker Ademola Lookman, was surprisingly omitted from the ten-man shortlist despite his impressive campaign with Atalanta, which saw him win the Europa League. His absence underscores the intense competition and high bar for achieving continental recognition.

Nigeria’s representation extends beyond the Men's Player of the Year category. Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has earned a nomination for the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Nwabali had a standout year, providing consistent performances for the Super Eagles, notably helping the team reach the finals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations and contributing to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying efforts. He also maintained strong form for his club, Chippa United. This is Nwabali's second consecutive nomination, having been shortlisted in 2024, and he will be aiming to clinch the award this year against competitors like André Onana, Yassine Bounou, and Edouard Mendy.

Further adding to Nigeria’s strong showing is Daniel Bameyi, the 19-year-old captain of the Flying Eagles, who has been nominated for the CAF Young Player of the Year award. Bameyi’s leadership was pivotal in guiding Nigeria’s U-20 side to a bronze medal at the U-20 AFCON and leading them to the Round of 16 at the U-20 World Cup. However, the nomination list also saw some surprising omissions, including teenage goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, who had a record-breaking year and made history as Nigeria’s youngest debutant at a major tournament.

The 2025 CAF Awards ceremony, hosted in Marrakech for the third consecutive year in December, promises to be an event celebrating Africa’s finest football talents, with significant Nigerian interest across multiple prestigious categories.