Morocco’s Hakimi, Nigeria’s Osimhen and Egypt’s Salah are shortlisted for the 2025 African men’s player of the year award in Rabat ceremony
MOROCCAN Achraf Hakimi, Nigerian Victor Osimhen and Egyptian Mohamed Salah were shortlisted for the 2025 African men’s player of the year award.
The Confederation of African Football announced the three contenders on Sunday.
Moroccans Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade are the women’s player of the year nominees.
Currently injured full-back Hakimi helped Paris Saint-Germain win the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
The 27-year-old also contributed to PSG finishing runners-up to Chelsea in the expanded Club World Cup final.
If fit, Hakimi will lead hosts Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations from December 21.
Morocco seek to win the competition for the first time since 1976.
Twice African award winner Salah has been struggling lately after an outstanding contribution to Liverpool.
The 33-year-old helped Liverpool win the Premier League a record-equalling 20th time last season.
Salah won the 2024-25 Premier League Golden Boot award with 29 goals, six more than Alexander Isak.
Osimhen from Turkish outfit Galatasaray has been outstanding recently for club and country.
Some of his achievements will not count as the judging deadline was October 15.
That rules out his Champions League hat-trick against Ajax and two goals in a World Cup play-off victory over Gabon.
Paris Saint-Germain star Ajibade was voted best player at the Africa women’s Cup of Nations this year.
Nigeria came from two goals behind to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Saudi Arabia-based Chebbak was the competition’s leading scorer with five goals.
The daughter of former Moroccan men’s star Larbi Chebbak continues the family football legacy.
Another Moroccan forward Mssoudy has helped make Rabat club FAR one of Africa’s strongest teams.
FAR won the CAF women’s Champions League three years ago and reached the 2025 semi-finals this weekend.
The annual African awards ceremony will be staged in Moroccan capital Rabat on Wednesday.
CAF technical committee members, coaches, former stars and media representatives selected the nominees. – AFP
