Nigeria is celebrating its football stars once again. Four top talents have been shortlisted for the 2025 CAF Awards. Victor Osimhen, Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Shakirat Moshood made the final list. They are competing for Africa’s most prestigious football honours.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the finalists on Sunday. The awards ceremony will hold on Wednesday, November 19. Rabat, Morocco, will host the prestigious event. These awards recognise the continent’s standout performers from January 6 to October 15, 2025. Nigeria boasts a strong presence across several headline categories.

Victor Osimhen Eyes Men’s Player of the Year

Victor Osimhen continues his impressive form at Galatasaray. He is one of the three contenders for the Men’s Player of the Year award. Osimhen faces strong competition. He is up against Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi. His nomination keeps Nigeria firmly in the running. Ademola Lookman won in 2024, and Osimhen himself triumphed the year before.

Rasheedat Ajibade Shortlisted for Women’s Player of the Year

Rasheedat Ajibade is among the final three for the women’s award. She had an outstanding run with Paris Saint-Germain. Ajibade also played a commanding role in guiding the Super Falcons to their tenth WAFCON trophy. She will compete against Morocco’s Ghizlaine Chebbak of Al Hilal and Sanaa Mssoudy of AS FAR.

Chiamaka Nnadozie in Goalkeeper of the Year Race

In the goalkeeping category, Chiamaka Nnadozie is also nominated. Now with Brighton & Hove Albion, she joins Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Her nomination follows a season of strong performances. She excelled for both Paris FC and the Super Falcons.

Shakirat Moshood Vies for Women’s Young Player Award

Shakirat Moshood’s career continues to soar. She has earned a spot among the final three for Women’s Young Player of the Year. Her fellow nominees are Morocco’s Doha El Madani and Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye.

Moshood led Bayelsa Queens to the final of the WAFU B Zonal Champions League. There, they lost on penalties to ASEC Mimosas. She finished as the tournament’s top scorer. She also captained the Flamingos to the second round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

CAF Selection Process and Future Announcements

CAF explained that finalists were chosen based on consistency and impact. Their performances for both club and country during the season were crucial. A panel of experts compiled the final shortlist. This panel included technical committee members, experienced coaches, CAF Legends, and media professionals. They evaluated performances across all major tournaments.

More award categories will be revealed later. These include Women’s Coach of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, and Club of the Year. These announcements will follow the conclusion of the CAF Women’s Champions League Egypt 2025. Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu is widely expected to be among the leading names for Women’s Coach of the Year.