With the football world turning its gaze to Rabat, Morocco ahead of the CAF Awards 2025, the spotlight is firmly on the players who shaped African football over the last twelve months.

The CAF Awards 2025 ceremony is scheduled to commence from 6 p.m. (Nigerian time) later tonight, November 19, and the competition for the top honours looks tighter than ever.

CAF Player of the Year (Men)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool)

Salah cemented his place as one of Africa’s modern greats in the last 12 months. The Liverpool forward produced 29 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League alone, driving the club to the title. By the time the season closed, he had registered 47 goal contributions. He also steered Egypt into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)

Hakimi’s campaign with PSG was as close as it gets to flawless. He was a permanent feature in a side that won the Champions League, Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Super Cup. Morocco’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup added even more weight to his credentials.

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray)

Osimhen keeps scoring at a level that leaves very little room for debate. The Nigerian striker found the net 37 times in 41 outings for Galatasaray. He helped the club to win the Turkish league title and the league cup. He carried that form into the new season and kept himself firmly in the conversation for Africa’s top individual award.

CAF Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)

Munir Mohamedi (Morocco / RS Berkane)

Mohamedi stood tall for RS Berkane during a record-breaking year. His saves and leadership helped the club win the CAF Confederation Cup and their first-ever Moroccan Botola Pro title.

Yassine Bonou (Morocco / Al Hilal)

Bonou delivered another year of calm, reliability and high-level command in goal. His contributions for Al Hilal and Morocco earned him a place in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI, reinforcing his status as one of Africa’s most trusted shot-stoppers.

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

Williams played a central role as Sundowns clinched their eighth straight Premiership title. He captained South Africa to World Cup qualification and took his club all the way to the CAF Champions League final.

CAF Women’s Player of the Year

Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco / Al Hilal)

Chebbak remains a vital creative force. The former WAFCON Player of the Tournament delivered another season defined by her intelligence on the ball, her leadership and her ability to influence matches from midfield.

Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

Mssoudy continues to grow into one of the continent’s most exciting attacking players. She was voted Player of the Year in the Moroccan Women’s Championship and played an important role in AS FAR’s strong campaign.

Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria / Paris Saint-Germain)

Ajibade’s rise shows no signs of slowing. Her blend of speed, sharp movement and composure helped Nigeria win their tenth WAFCON title. She left the tournament with the Player of the Tournament award and remains one of Africa’s most complete forwards.

CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year

Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco / AS FAR)

Er-Rmichi’s consistency over the years continues to keep her near the top. She has collected multiple goalkeeper-of-the-season awards in the Moroccan league and remains a crucial part of AS FAR’s defence.

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Brighton & Hove Albion)

Nnadozie enters this year’s event as the reigning WAFCON Best Goalkeeper. Known for her authority in the box and her cool reactions under pressure, she is targeting her third straight CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Andile Dlamini (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

Dlamini’s presence between the posts remains one of Sundowns’ greatest strengths. Even though the club fell short in the last CAF Women’s Champions League, her form on the local and international stage earned her another nomination.

African Legends Set To Light Up the CAF Awards 2025 Rabat

The ceremony will also serve as a gathering of African football royalty. A long list of household names will walk the red carpet, including Mustapha Hadji, Gervinho, Rabah Madjer, Mohamed Sissoko, Idriss Kameni, Shikabala, Patrick Mboma and Taribo West.

Women’s football will be well represented too, with Janine van Wyk, Desire Oparanozie, Clementine Toure and Bernadette Anong among those expected.

Their presence will highlight the link between African football’s pioneers and the new generation of stars carrying the game forward.

The awards ceremony begins at 19h00 local time, 18h00 GMT and 20h00 in Cairo. You can catch all the actions on the CAFTV YouTube channel.