Hakimi, Osimhen, Salah Shortlisted For Top African Award

2026-02-26 14:05:49

Abstract generation in progress

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) AFP

Johannesburg, South Africa: Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Nigerian Victor Osimhen, and Egyptian Mohamed Salah were shortlisted on Sunday for the 2025 African Men’s Player of the Year award, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced.

Currently injured, full-back Hakimi helped Paris Saint-Germain win the UEFA Champions League for the first time and finish as runners-up to Chelsea in the final of the expanded Club World Cup.

If fit, the 27-year-old will lead hosts Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations starting December 21 as they seek to win the tournament for the first time since 1976.

A two-time winner of the African award, Salah has been struggling lately after an outstanding contribution to Liverpool winning the Premier League for a record-equalling 20th time last season.

The 33-year-old won the 2024-25 Premier League Golden Boot award with 29 goals, six more than Alexander Isak, who has since transferred from Newcastle United to Liverpool.

Osimhen, from top Turkish club Galatasaray, has been outstanding recently for club and country, but some of his achievements will not count as the deadline for the judges was October 15.

That rules out a Champions League hat-trick against Ajax in Amsterdam and two goals in a 2026 World Cup playoff victory over Gabon last Thursday.

The annual African men’s and women’s awards ceremony will be held in Moroccan capital Rabat on Wednesday.

CAF technical and development committee members, coaches, former stars, and selected media representatives chose the nominees.

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