Key Nigerian Stars Set for 2025 CAF Awards
Victor Osimhen, Rasheedat Ajibade, and several other Nigerian football stars are set to find out their fates at the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony scheduled for November 19 in Rabat, Morocco. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the event will take place at 7:00 pm local time (6:00 pm Nigerian time), celebrating the best African footballers, coaches, and teams who have excelled over the past year.
The ceremony is expected to attract high-profile attendees, including CAF President Patrice Motsepe and top officials from across the continent. This marks the third consecutive year that Morocco will host the prestigious awards, highlighting the country’s growing influence in African football.
Nigeria is set to be strongly represented at the event, with several players shortlisted across various categories. Among them are Victor Osimhen, Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Stanley Nwabali, Daniel Bameyi, Shakirat Moshood, Justine Madugu, and Bankole Olowookere.
Osimhen, who has been in impressive form for Galatasaray, is aiming to reclaim the CAF African Player of the Year award he won in 2023. His competition includes notable names such as Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), Denis Bouanga (Gabon/LAFC), and Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli). However, last year’s winner, Ademola Lookman, misses out on this year’s shortlist due to inconsistent performances for Atalanta in Serie A and Europe.
In the women’s category, Ajibade and Okoronkwo are among the top contenders for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year. Okoronkwo’s standout performances for both club and country have made her a favorite for the award, which was won by Zambia’s Barbra Banda in 2024. Chiamaka Nnadozie, who has won the Best Goalkeeper (Women) award for the past two years, is also tipped to make it a hat-trick following another exceptional season with Paris FC/Brighton and Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
On the men’s side, Stanley Nwabali is a strong contender for the Goalkeeper of the Year award. Meanwhile, Daniel Bameyi and Shakirat Moshood are competing in the Young Player of the Year bracket for boys and girls, respectively.
Nigeria’s presence extends beyond individual players. Justine Madugu, the coach of the Super Falcons, and Bankole Olowookere, the Flamingos coach, have both been nominated for the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award.
The ceremony will also feature awards for National Team of the Year (Men & Women) and Club of the Year, showcasing the breadth of excellence in African football.