Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi Lead Race for 2025 African Player of the Year
By Bruno Mugala Atonya
The race for the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year award is heating up, with Liverpool’s star forward Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain’s defender Achraf Hakimi emerging as the leading contenders for the continent’s most prestigious football honour.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially unveiled the ten-man shortlist on Wednesday, featuring a mix of established stars and rising talents from across Africa’s footballing landscape.
Salah, who captains Egypt, is eyeing his third African Player of the Year title, having previously lifted the award twice. His consistent brilliance for Liverpool and impressive individual statistics this season have kept him firmly among the elite. The Egyptian forward also finished fourth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, a testament to his enduring global impact.
Meanwhile, Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, who claimed sixth place in the Ballon d’Or rankings, is widely tipped as Salah’s closest rival. The PSG right-back continues to impress with his versatility, combining defensive solidity with attacking flair. Having yet to win the continental crown, Hakimi’s current form could finally earn him the recognition many feel he deserves.
The English Premier League also has a strong presence in this year’s nominations. Two Senegalese stars, Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham Hotspur and Iliman Ndiaye of Everton, have been named among the finalists, showcasing Senegal’s consistent production of top-tier football talent.
Adding a touch of continental pride, two nominees are currently plying their trade in Africa-based clubs. Fiston Mayele of the Democratic Republic of Congo, representing Egyptian champions Pyramids FC, and Oussama Lamlioui from Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, both earned spots on the list after outstanding goal-scoring seasons. Their inclusion highlights the growing competitiveness of African domestic football.
Interestingly, Ademola Lookman, the Nigerian forward who claimed the 2024 crown, misses out this time, while his compatriot and 2023 winner, Victor Osimhen, makes a return to the shortlist after joining Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Other big names on the list include Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon/Napoli), Denis Bouanga (Gabon/Los Angeles FC), and Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), each bringing a unique story of success from different leagues around the world.
The ten-man shortlist was carefully selected by CAF’s Technical and Development Committee, alongside coaches, former football legends, and select media representatives across the continent.
As the countdown to the CAF Awards Gala begins, fans across Africa are divided — will Salah reclaim his throne, will Hakimi make history for Morocco, or will a new hero rise from the continent’s rich footballing tapestry?
One thing is certain: the 2025 African Player of the Year race promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.
