Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has been nominated for the 2025 African Player of the Year award.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced Osimhen with other nominees for the award on their X handle on Wednesday.
Other notable players who made the shortlist are Egypt and Liverpool star winger Mohammed Salah, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea and Borussia Dortmund and Napoli and Cameroon international Frank Anguissa.
Others also on the shortlist are Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, Fiston Mayele of the DR Congo and Pyramid of Egypt, Iliman Ndiaye of Senegal and Eveton, Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC and Gabon and Oussama Lamlioui of Morocco and RS Berkane.
Also Read: UCL: Osimhen Set To Break Galatasaray’s European Record
Osimhen won the 2023 African Player of the Year award after helping Napoli win the Italian Serie A title.
He relinquished the award to Super Eagles teammate and Atalanta star forward Ademola Lookman in 2024.
The 26-year-old bagged a hat-trick in the Super Eagles’ 4-0 hammering of Benin Republic, in their final Group C fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The hat-trick took his goals tally in the World Cup qualifiers to six in five appearances.
Also, the convincing win against Benin Republic helped the Super Eagles qualify for the African qualifying playoffs which will take place in Morocco in March, 2026.
At Galatasaray, Osimhen has netted two goals in six league matches and one goal in one game in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Meanwhile, Stanley Nwabali was nominated for the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bamayi was shortlisted for the Young Player of the Year category.
By James Agberebi
4 Comments
Hahahaha even though we all know osimhen will not win it but we are all pretending….hahaha
In all honesty this is a slap to the first to nominate osimhen from a tolotolo league amongst hard grinding players from prestigious league like sallah and co
Ol’ boy, why don’t you shut up and leave our Osimhen alone. Tolotolo league according to you yet he is banging in goals left and right in the champions league abi champions league na tolotolo league too?
Hakimi will be my NO1 pick for the APOTY hands down. It will surely be a one sided pick like that of KB9 world best win.
But again if VO win it as what God can not do does nt exist, we will celebrate and take it.
Femi life go sweet for you because you have a positive spirit and always wishing others well. I feel the vibe of your positivity you dey top for very long time… No abusive words just pure share of joy!!!