Lagos, Nigeria – October 22, 2025 – Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, igniting hopes of a second crown for the Nigerian talisman following his triumphant 2023 win. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the 10-man nominee list on Wednesday, spotlighting Osimhen’s explosive form for Galatasaray and Nigeria amid a star-studded field that includes Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi.
Osimhen, 26, earned his spot through a blistering campaign from January 6 to October 15, 2025, where he netted 37 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions for the Turkish giants—on loan from Napoli—clinching the league’s Player of the Season honors in the process. For the Super Eagles, his hat-trick in a 4-0 rout of Benin Republic last month kept Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying dreams alive, underscoring his role as the team’s attacking heartbeat. “It’s an honor to be recognized again. This is for my family, Napoli, Galatasaray, and every Naija fan who believed,” Osimhen posted on X, where his message exploded with over 100,000 likes and a flood of celebratory emojis.
Joining Osimhen in the elite lineup are Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Guinean forward Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund), Congolese striker Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC), Cameroonian midfielder Frank Anguissa (Napoli), Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Senegalese duo Iliman Ndiaye (Everton) and Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), and Moroccan midfielder Oussama Lamloumi (Wydad Casablanca). The nominations, based solely on continental performances, snubbed Nigeria’s 2024 winner Ademola Lookman, drawing mixed reactions from fans who lamented the Atalanta star’s omission despite his Europa League heroics.
Nigeria’s presence shines beyond Osimhen, with Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year—facing Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), and Andre Onana (Manchester United)—and Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi in the Men’s Young Player category. Morocco dominated the men’s shortlists with 14 nominees overall, a nod to their clubs’ and national team’s stellar year, while Nigeria tallied three across seven categories.
Social media erupted in jubilation, with #OsimhenCAF2025 trending on X as fans dissected the matchup: “Victor vs Mo and Hakimi? Naija go carry am home again! Hat-trick king incoming,” one user tweeted, amassing 20,000 retweets. Pundits are split on the frontrunners—Osimhen’s goal haul versus Salah’s Premier League dominance and Hakimi’s Champions League glory—setting up a nail-biter ahead of the gala in Marrakech, Morocco, later this year.
For Osimhen, whose 2023 victory capped Napoli’s Serie A triumph, this nod reaffirms his status as Africa’s premier forward. As voting opens to coaches, captains, journalists, and fans, all eyes are on whether the Lagos-born powerhouse can reclaim his throne in a continent brimming with talent.
Follow updates on the 2025 CAF Awards via @CAF_Online on X.