CAF Men’s POTY nominees make impressive cases

Wednesday Oct 22, 2025. 18:39

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year award.

The governing body released the list of nominations for its awards on Monday, which includes the coveted individual award for the best player from the continent.

The 10-player shortlist is comprised of Andre Frank Zambo-Anguissa, Fiston Mayele, Mohamed Salah, Denis Bouanga, Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, Oussama Lamlioui, Victor Osimhen, Iliman Ndiaye and Pape Matar Sarr.

Only two of those shortlisted play their club football on the continent and were both also nominated for CAF Men’s Interclub Player of the Year.

Mohamed Salah, who won the award in 2017 and 2018, equaled the Premier League record for most goal contributions in a season and helped Liverpool claim the club’s 20th English league title in the 2024/25 campaign. He was the highest finishing African player in the Ballon d’Or rankings, finishing fourth. As captain, he helped guide Egypt to FIFA World Cup Qualification without a loss.

Achraf Hakimi enjoyed a stellar 2025 with both Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The 26-year-old won five trophies with PSG during the 2024/25 season, including the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League, and claimed the UEFA Super Cup in August. Hakimi finished sixth in Ballon d’Or voting and helped Morocco to a flawless eight wins from eight games in World Cup qualifying, booking its spot at the tournament next year.

Serhou Guirassy shone in Europe, showing out in his first season for Borussia Dortmund. The striker finished as tied top-scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 13 goals in 14 games and finished second in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race with 21 goals in 30 appearances. He was the third African player in the Ballon d’Or rankings, being placed 21st.

Victor Osimhen showed his class in his first season at Galatasaray. He helped his new side to the Turkish Süper Lig title and finished as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals in 30 games. The striker came up clutch for Nigeria, securing its place in the African playoffs in World Cup qualifying with an all important hat-trick against Benin in their last qualifying group game.

André-Frank Zambo Anguissa played a crucial role in Napoli’s Serie A title winning campaign. Anguissa was a constant presence in midfield, playing in 35 of Napoli’s 38 league games. He also aided Cameroon to second in group D of African World Cup qualifying, playing ll of their qualifiers this year and sending them to the second round.

Fiston Mayele played an instrumental role in Pyramids FC’s CAF Champions League winning campaign, helping the club to its first continental title. His goal in the second leg of the final helped Pyramids overcome Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 on aggregate. He netted nine goals in 13 games en route to the trophy. The 31-year-old also helped the Democratic Republic of the Congo reach the second round of Africa World Cup qualifying as the second best second-placed team in group play. He is one of two African based players on the shortlist for the award.

Denis Bouanga has proven his lethality up front in the MLS this year. The forward helped LAFC to third place in the Western Conference of the MLS and the playoffs with 24 goals in 31 games. He finished second in the regular season goal-scorers’ list behind Lionel Messi. The striker was equally as effective for Gabon in 2025, notching five goal contributions in four games to help his nation stay undefeated in the year and earn a spot in the second round of World Cup qualifying.

Oussama Lamlioui, another African based player, helped Moroccan club RS Berkane to its first Botola Pro league title. He netted 1o goals in 21 league appearances in the 2024/25 season and had six goals in 10 CAF Champions League appearances. He has three goals in two games to start the 2025/26 Champions League campaign. Lamlioui’s lethality extended to his national side as he netted six goals in six games to help Morocco to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) title.

Iliman Ndiaye is coming into his own for Everton, as he has for Senegal. The attacking midfielder bagged nine goals in 33 appearances last season and two goals in the club’s first two games of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and now sits on 3 goals and one assist in eight league appearances. Ndiaye featured in all four of Senegal’s World Cup qualifiers in 2025, bagging one goal and one assist to help his nation secure World Cup qualification.

Pape Matar Sarr is another Africa player proving himself in England. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder played in 36 of the club’s 38 Premier League games last season and has three goals contributions in seven league games this season. The 23-year-old helped end the club’s 17-year trophy drought, claiming the UEFA Europa League title. He scored two goals in four games for Senegal in 2025, helping the nation clinch World Cup qualification.

By Nic Gleeson

CAF Men’s Player of the Year Nominees:

Andre Frank Zambo-Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli)

Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)

Denis Bouanga (Gabon/Los Angeles FC)

Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)

Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane)

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray)

Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal/Everton)

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal/Tottenham Hotspur)