Ajibade,Osimhen,Nnadozie, Moshood Among Nigerians Shortlisted for 2025 CAF Awards

Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade have been named among the finalists for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year awards. In addition, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Bayelsa Queens forward Shakirat Moshood earned recognition in their respective categories.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the final shortlist on Sunday ahead of the awards gala set for Wednesday, November 19, in Rabat, Morocco. The ceremony celebrates the continent’s top performers for the period from January 6 to October 15, 2025.

On the men’s side, Osimhen, currently starring for Galatasaray, joins Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain as finalists for the CAF African Player of the Year award. This continues Nigeria’s strong presence in the men’s category, following Victor Osimhen in 2023 and Ademola Lookman in 2024. On the women’s side, Ajibade, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain and led the Super Falcons to their 10th WAFCON title, is shortlisted alongside Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy.

Nnadozie, now with Brighton & Hove Albion, is among the finalists for Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while Moshood features in the Women’s Young Player of the Year category after a standout season for Bayelsa Queens and Nigeria’s U-17 Flamingos. CAF also announced that some awards, including Women’s Coach of the Year and Club of the Year, will be revealed after the conclusion of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League Egypt 2025. Nigeria’s representation across multiple categories highlights the nation’s depth of talent and growing impact on African football.