Overview:
Mayele is on a list that big names including English Premier League winner and top scorer Mohamed Salah of Egypt, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi who helped his club side Paris St-Germain to a domestic league and cup double and the Champions League trophy last season as well as Cameroon midfield gem Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who claimed the Serie A with Napoli.
Fiston Mayele is the only African-based player on the initial 10-man shortlist for the 2025 African Footballer of the Year Award.
The DR Congo forward, who plays for Egypt’s Pyramid, was instrumental as the side won their first-ever CAF Champions League, as well as lifting the CAF Super Cup.
The goal machine also helped DR Congo qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and to the continental playoffs of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Mayele is on a list that has big names, including English Premier League winner and top scorer Mohamed Salah of Egypt, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi who helped his club side Paris St-Germain to a domestic league and cup double and the Champions League trophy last season as well as Cameroon midfield gem Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who claimed the Serie A with Napoli.
Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who both helped Senegal qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, are included alongside Galatasaray and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, the award winner in 2023.
Gabon forward Denis Bouanga, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and Moroccan midfielder Oussama Lamlioui round out the nominees.
Reigning award holder from last year Ademola Lookman was overlooked after an average campaign with both Nigeria and Atalanta so far.
Simba, Kapombe in the mix
From the neighbourhood, Tanzania right back Shomari Kapombe and his club Simba SC are nominated in the Interclub Player of the Year and Club of the Year categories respectively.
Simba faces stiff competition from Pyramids (Caf Champions League winner) & RS Berkane (Caf Confederation Cup) as well as South Africa’s duo of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates and Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and CS Constantine.
Kapombe features on a list dominated by Pyramids FC and RS Berkane players. Algeria’s Ismael Belkacemi (USM Alger) and Burkina Faso’s Blati Touré (Pyramids FC) headline the list, alongside Oussama Lamlioui (RS Berkane), Issoufou Dayo (RS Berkane), and Emam Ashour (Al Ahly). The nominations reflect standout campaigns in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup for Pyramids and Berkane.
Elsewhere, Cape Verde coach Bubista is deservedly nominated for Men’s Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Sharks to their maiden World Cup at the expense of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, and his team is also in the race for the Men’s National Team of the Year.
Caf Awards 2025 – men’s nominees
Caf Awards 2025 – women’s nominees
Women’s Player of the Year: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris St-Germain & Nigeria), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride & Zambia), Portia Boakye (Hapoel Petah Tikva & Ghana), Tabitha Chawinga (Lyon & Malawi), Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City & Malawi), Ghizlaine Chebbak (Al Hilal & Morocco), Mama Diop (Strasbourg & Senegal), Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC & Zambia), Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR & Morocco), Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto & Nigeria).
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Sedilame Boseja (Mamelodi Sundowns & Botswana), Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa), Habiba Emad (FC Masar & Egypt), Khadija Er-Rmichi (AS FAR & Morocco), Fatoumata Karantao (MUSFAS Bamako & Mali), Cynthia Konlan (Swieqi United & Ghana), Adji Ndiaye (AS Bambey & Senegal), Fideline Ndoy (TP Mazembe & DR Congo), Chloe N’Gazi (Marseille & Algeria), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion & Nigeria).
Women’s Coach of the Year: Genoveva Anonman (15 de Agosto), Kim Bjorkegren (Ghana), Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe), Desiree Ellis (South Africa), Carol Kanyemba (Zambia U17), Adelaide Koudougnon (Ivory Coat U17), Justin Madugu (Nigeria), Bankole Olowookere (Nigeria U17), Siaka Gigi Traore (ASEC Mimosas), Jorge Vilda (Morocco).
Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon U17, Ghana, Ivory Coast U17, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Nigeria U17, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia U17.