The 2025 CAF Awards have ignited a fresh wave of discussion across Nigeria. This follows the release of detailed voting breakdowns. These records show that several Nigerian representatives cast ballots that appeared to weaken the chances of the nation’s own top contenders.
Men’s Player of the Year: Osimhen’s Journey to Third Place
Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi secured the coveted Men’s Player of the Year award. He garnered an impressive 533 points. This total nearly matched the combined scores of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.
Salah finished with 317 points. Osimhen, despite a standout season for Galatasaray where he won the league and cup double and was top scorer, placed third with 240 points. Osimhen had previously won the award in 2023.
Hakimi’s victory marked a historic moment. He became the first Moroccan to win the honour since 1998. The full-back had an exceptional year. He lifted the Ligue 1 title and won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain. He also helped Morocco qualify for the 2026 World Cup without a single loss.
However, attention in Nigeria quickly shifted. The focus moved from Hakimi’s achievement to the surprising voting choices made by some Nigerian officials.
Amokachi’s Controversial Vote for Osimhen
One of the most debated ballots came from Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi. Serving as a CAF Technical Expert, Amokachi ranked Osimhen in fifth place. This gave him only one point.
Amokachi’s top picks were Hakimi, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, and Mohamed Salah. He placed Serhou Guirassy in fourth position.
In contrast, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and captain William Troost-Ekong voted differently. They both listed Osimhen as their first choice. They then selected Hakimi as second, followed by Pape Matar Sarr.
Other Categories: Nigerian Voters Against Their Own
This trend of Nigerians seemingly voting against their own nominees extended to other categories.
Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi finished 10th in the Young Men’s Player category. Nigeria’s media voter, Oluwashina Okeleji, notably excluded Bameyi from his top five entirely.
Stanley Nwabali, who enjoyed a stellar year for both club and country, placed eighth in the Goalkeeper of the Year category. His coach and captain both ranked him as their top choice. Yet, Okeleji chose Cameroon’s Andre Onana as his first pick. Nwabali was then pushed to second on Okeleji’s ballot.
Women’s Player of the Year: Ajibade and Okoronkwo’s Near Miss
The Women’s Player of the Year category saw the most intense contest. Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco topped the standings with 223 points. Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade followed with 155 points, and Esther Okoronkwo with 134.
Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu showed strong support for her players. She backed Okoronkwo first, Ajibade second, and Chebbak third. Even Morocco coach Jorge Vilda ranked Ajibade above Chebbak.
However, Nigeria’s media representative in the women’s category, Samuel Ahmadu, again defied expectations. He ranked Okoronkwo third and Ajibade fifth. He gave his top votes to Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga. Ahmadu’s ballot proved costly for Nigeria’s medal hopes in the final standings.
Consistent Pattern: Nnadozie and Moshood’s Experience
Chiamaka Nnadozie successfully retained her Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. This marked her third consecutive win. Despite her achievement, Ahmadu still rated her fifth. Both Madugu and Ajibade, however, listed Nnadozie as their preferred choice.
In the Women’s Young Player category, Flamingos captain Shakirat Moshood finished second. She was behind Morocco’s Doha El Madani. Ahmadu once more placed Nigeria’s nominee in fifth position.
Super Falcons’ National Team Award Almost Jeopardized
Even Nigeria’s Women’s National Team of the Year win faced a significant challenge. The Super Falcons secured the award after their triumphant WAFCON campaign. They earned 106 points, narrowly beating Morocco’s 98.
Ahmadu, however, voted Tanzania first and Nigeria fifth. He was the only judge to do so. This decision highlights a recurring pattern of questionable voting from Nigerian representatives at the prestigious awards.
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