Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been named among the final three nominees for the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, setting up a heavyweight contest against Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
CAF confirmed the top three finalists on their official X (Twitter) page on Sunday, trimming the list from the original 10-man shortlist released in October.
Osimhen’s inclusion comes after a phenomenal year on loan at Galatasaray, where he powered the Turkish side to a domestic double. The Nigerian striker was in sensational form, scoring 37 goals and providing seven assists across all competitions.
The 26-year-old has carried that momentum into the new campaign, already netting nine times so far. His six-goal tally in the UEFA Champions League places him at the top of the scoring chart, ahead of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane, who each have five.
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On the international stage, Osimhen has remained indispensable for Nigeria. He delivered a hat-trick in the Super Eagles’ 4–0 win over Benin Republic and struck twice in the 4–1 playoff semifinal victory against DR Congo, keeping the nation’s World Cup hopes alive.
Asides Osimhen, Mohamed Salah, is widely considered a favourite after inspiring Liverpool to the 2024–25 Premier League title, a season in which he claimed both the Golden Boot and the Premier League Player of the Season award.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi is equally in contention, following a historic treble that saw PSG win the Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup. His consistency throughout the campaign has placed him firmly among the leading candidates.
The winner will be announced at the 2025 CAF Awards scheduled for Wednesday, 19 November, in Rabat, Morocco, where Africa’s top performers over the past year will be honoured.
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