Nigeria’s top football talents are once again in the mix for Africa’s biggest honours, as Victor Osimhen, Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Shakirat Moshood have all made the final shortlist for the 2025 CAF Awards.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed the 2025 CAF Awards finalists on Sunday ahead of the ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 in Rabat, Morocco.
The awards recognise the continent’s standout performers from January 6 to October 15, 2025, and Nigeria features heavily across several headline categories.
Osimhen, who has found a new spark at Galatasaray, is one of the three contenders for the Men’s Player of the Year award.
He is up against Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi. His inclusion keeps Nigeria firmly in the frame after Ademola Lookman’s win in 2024 and Osimhen’s own triumph the year before.
For the women’s award, Ajibade’s name sits among the final three after an impressive run with Paris Saint-Germain and a commanding role in guiding the Super Falcons to their tenth WAFCON trophy. She will compete with Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak of Al Hilal and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR.
CAF explained that the finalists were chosen based on their consistency and impact for both club and country during the season.
In the goalkeeping category, Nnadozie, now with Brighton & Hove Albion, joins Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini on the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year shortlist. Her nomination comes after a season packed with strong performances for Paris FC and the Super Falcons.
Moshood’s rise continues as she earns a place among the final three for Women’s Young Player of the Year. She is shortlisted with Morocco’s Doha El Madani and Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye.
She led Bayelsa Queens to the final of the WAFU B Zonal Champions League, where they lost on penalties to ASEC Mimosas, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. She also captained the Flamingos to the second round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
CAF added that more categories, such as Women’s Coach of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year and Club of the Year, will be revealed once the CAF Women’s Champions League Egypt 2025 ends. Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu is expected to be among the leading names.
Nigeria also appears on the Women’s Team of the Year shortlist alongside Ghana and Morocco, acknowledging the national sides that impressed during the period under review.
CAF said the final shortlist was compiled by a panel of experts comprising technical committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends, and media professionals who evaluated performances across all major tournaments.
