Victor Osimhen, the talented Nigerian striker currently playing for Galatasaray, has been officially shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award. This marks a significant recognition of his outstanding performances over the past year.
Osimhen’s Competition
Osimhen will face tough competition from some of Africa’s biggest football stars. Among the other nominees are Egypt and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi. Other notable nominees include Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele, Cameroon’s Frank Anguissa, and Gabon’s Dennis Bounaga. Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr, Ilman Ndiaye, and Algeria’s Ousmanne Lamloui have also made the list.
Osimhen’s Journey to Nomination
Osimhen’s nomination comes after another impressive year where he continued to excel both for his club and the national team. His consistent performance, relentless work rate, and sharp goal-scoring ability have cemented his status as one of Africa’s most influential forwards. In 2023, he made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win the CAF Player of the Year title since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Goalkeeper of the Year Category
In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali, who currently plays for South African club Chippa United, will compete against South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Cameroon’s Andre Onana. The final winners will be announced at the CAF Awards ceremony later this year.
Osimhen’s nomination highlights his ongoing impact and the high regard in which he is held across African football. Football fans and analysts will be eagerly watching to see if he can reclaim the title he last won in 2023.
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