• Nwabali, Bameyi also listed

By Emma Jemegah

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released a 10-man shortlist for the annual African Player of the Year with two former winners and a finalist making the cut.

As usual, Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah tops the list with Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Salah lead the way

Salah scooped the award in 2017 and 2018; Osimhen won it in 2023 while Hakimi finished as runner up in the past two years.

The others are Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Cameroon and Napoli, Gabon and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea and Borussia Dortmund, Oussama Lamlioui who plays for Renaissance Berkane, Papa Matar Sarr of Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur, IIiman Ndiaye, also of Senegal and Fiston Mayale of DR Congo.

In other categories, Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali has been nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award, where he will face competition from Yassine Bounou, Ronwen Williams, and Andre Onana.

Also on the honors’ list is Daniel Bameyi, captain of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, who is among the contenders for the Men’s Young Player of the Year award.

CAF said the award is to honour the continent’s standout players, coaches, clubs, and national teams who made remarkable contributions between January 6 and October 15, 2025.

A panel comprising CAF Technical and Development Committee members, seasoned coaches, CAF Legends and respected media professionals selected the nominees.

CAF is expected to announce the winners at its annual awards ceremony later in the year.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, who is not on the list this time, won it in 2024.

Osimhen won the 2023 African Player of the Year award after helping Napoli win the Italian Serie A title, whilst Lookman helped Atalanta to its first European trophy in 2023 as it lifted the Europa League.

Mane won the award in 2023 after he won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in February, scoring three goals and providing two assists on the way to the final. Salah picked up multiple awards for his performances for Liverpool and Egypt, which included an AFCON final, a Champions League trophy and Premier League title.

Salah and Hakimi and the favourites for the award and odds favour the Moroccan who won the Ligue 1 title, Champions League, Super Cup and Coupe de France title.