As 2025 attracts to a detailed, it’s time to look again and replicate on the 12 months’s high performances. Not too long ago, Ousmane Dembele received the Ballon d’Or, and the awards recognizing the very best gamers and groups from Africa are simply across the nook. Among the many finalists, a Main League Soccer standout will go up towards Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah.
On Wednesday, CAF revealed the lists of finalists for the 2025 awards via its official social media channels. Unsurprisingly, probably the most anticipated class is African Participant of the Yr, which incorporates 10 nominees.
Mohamed Salah headlines the record because of his excellent performances with Liverpool in the course of the 2024-25 season, during which the Reds received the Premier League title. The Egyptian winger scored 29 targets in that marketing campaign, ending because the league’s high scorer forward of stars like Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.
The opposite main contender is Achraf Hakimi. The Moroccan right-back performed a key function for Paris Saint-Germain of their historic 2024-25 season, throughout which Luis Enrique guided the workforce to titles within the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France.
Salah and Hakimi have been so dominant in the course of the 2024-25 season that each completed within the high ten of the Ballon d’Or rankings awarded by France Soccer final month. The Liverpool winger positioned fourth, behind solely Dembele, Lamine Yamal, and Vitinha, whereas the PSG defender got here in sixth.
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A star from MLS among the many finalists for African Participant of the Yr
Becoming a member of Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi are eight different gamers hoping to take dwelling the distinguished award. Most of them additionally play in Europe: Napoli’s Frank Anguissa, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, and Tottenham’s Pape Sarr.
Nevertheless, three gamers have earned their place regardless of not enjoying in one of many world’s high leagues. Oussama Lamlioui, a ahead for RS Berkane in Morocco, and Fiston Mayele, additionally a ahead, who performs for Pyramids FC in Egypt, are the one finalists nonetheless enjoying in African home leagues.
The ultimate identify on the record comes from MLS: Denis Bouanga. The 30-year-old ahead, born in France however representing Gabon, has had an excellent 2025 marketing campaign with Los Angeles FC, incomes him a nomination for African Participant of the Yr. He recorded 30 targets and 9 assists throughout all competitions in 2025 and completed second within the MLS scoring chart, simply behind Lionel Messi.
Who has received the African Participant of the Yr?
CAF launched the African Participant of the Yr award in 1992, and since then, it has yearly honored the continent’s most excellent stars. The primary winner was Abedi Pele, a Ghanaian midfielder who starred for Olympique Marseille on the time. Within the years that adopted, legends reminiscent of George Weah and Nwankwo Kanu claimed the prize.
Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure share the document for many wins, with 4 every, whereas different world icons like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Didier Drogba have every received it twice. The latest recipient is Ademola Lookman, who had a standout 12 months with Atalanta in 2024.
