CAF AWARDS
Malawian sisters join Nnadozie and Zambia’s Banda for Women’s Player of the Year final contest
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has unveiled the top five nominees in each of the women’s categories at the upcoming 2024 CAF Awards. Excitement is mounting for the ceremony, which will be held on 16 December 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 2024 CAF Awards cover the period from January to October this year.
Five outstanding players have been shortlisted for the prestigious CAF Women’s Player of the Year, including the dynamic sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) and Barbra Banda (Zambia).
This year’s nominees reflect the excellence in women’s football across the continent after their impressive performances at club and national team level.
The CAF Goalkeeper of the Year category includes five exceptional shot-stoppers while the Interclub Player of the Year category highlights five standout performers who shone during continental competitions.
Emerging talents are celebrated in the CAF Young Player of the Year category featuring top nominees, while the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year category honours the technical brilliance of five coaches.
The awards also recognize the contributions of national teams and clubs.
The nominees for CAF Women’s National Team of the Year are Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and the Cameroon Under-20 side, while Club of the Year contenders include TP Mazembe (DR Congo), AS FAR (Morocco), and Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
The winners of each category will be determined through votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, head coaches and captains of Member Associations, as well as clubs participating in the group stages of Interclub competitions.
The #CAFAwards24 continue to celebrate the outstanding achievements of African footballers, coaches and teams.
Last year, Asisat Oshoala earned the title of CAF Women’s Player of the Year, and this year’s nominees will look to follow in her illustrious footsteps.
Full List of Nominees (in alphabetical order by Member Association):
Player of the Year (Women)
1. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi / Olympique Lyonnais)
2. Temwa Chawinga (Malawi / Kansas City Current)
3. Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)
4. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)
5. Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)
Moroccan international and national team captain Achraf Hakimi has been crowned African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards held on Wednesday in Rabat, becoming the first defender in 52 years to win the continent’s most prestigious individual honour.
Hakimi, who plays as a right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, finished ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen in the final voting. His triumph marks a historic moment for Moroccan football, making him the first player from the North African nation to win the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, and the first defender to be recognised since Zaire centre-back Bwanga Tshimen in 1973.
The 2025 season was one of the best of Hakimi’s career, with the 26-year-old enjoying a trophy-filled year at PSG. He played a key role in the club’s successes across four competitions — the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the UEFA Super Cup — achievements that strengthened his case as Africa’s standout footballer.
“It is really a proud moment for me to win this prestigious award,” Hakimi said during his acceptance speech. “This trophy is not just for me, but for all the strong men and women who have dreams of being a footballer in Africa. And for those that always believed in me since I was a child… I would like to thank them all.”
Morocco Dominates the Night
Hakimi’s win headlined a night in which Morocco asserted its growing influence in African football by sweeping several major categories.
Saudi-based forward Ghizlane Chebbak was named Women’s Footballer of the Year, adding to her growing list of accolades as one of the continent’s most consistent players.
In the men’s category, Yassine Bounou, the Al-Hilal and Atlas Lions goalkeeper, was crowned Goalkeeper of the Year, further underlining Morocco’s remarkable depth across both men’s and women’s football.
Nigeria’s Nnadozie Extends Her Reign
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time, continuing her dominance since the category’s introduction in 2023. The 24-year-old, who recently sealed a transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Women’s Super League, remains one of Africa’s most formidable goalkeepers.
Cape Verde Earns Historic Recognition
The Coach of the Year award went to Cape Verde’s Bubista, who guided the island nation to a milestone achievement — their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup, set for 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada. His win marks a significant moment for Cape Verdean football, symbolising the continent’s growing diversity at the highest level of competition.
The 2025 CAF Awards showcased not only individual brilliance but also the rising competitive strength across African football, with Morocco emerging as the night’s biggest winner.
All the Winners
African Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain) – Winner
Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Al Hilal) – Winner
Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids) – Winner
Men’s Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde) – Winner
Young African Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Morocco / Watford) – Winner
Men’s National Team of the Year: Morocco U-20 – Winner
Men’s Club of the Year: Pyramids FC – Winner
African Women’s Player of the Year: Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco / Al Hilal) – Winner
African Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Brighton & Hove Albion) – Winner.
Young African Women’s Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR) – Winner
Women’s National Team: Nigeria – Winner
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Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie has cemented her status as Africa’s top shot-stopper after winning the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time at the CAF Awards 2025 held on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.
The accolade, presented at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, extends Nnadozie’s dominance in a category introduced only in 2023 — and one she has ruled unchallenged since its inception.
Nnadozie’s latest honour comes on the back of a remarkable year for both club and country. She played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s historic 10th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations triumph on July 26 at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, where she was named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament and earned a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Her rising global profile was further underscored earlier in the year when she finished 5th in the inaugural Yashin Trophy for women at the France Football Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony — the highest-ever placement by an African goalkeeper.
With this latest CAF crown, the 24-year-old continues to strengthen her reputation as a continental and global benchmark in women’s goalkeeping.
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By Kunle Solaja.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will honour the continent’s brightest football stars this Wednesday, as the prestigious CAF Awards return to Morocco.
The ceremony, scheduled for 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT), will be held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Rabat.
Created to recognise excellence in African football, the CAF Awards spotlight both individual brilliance and collective achievement across male and female categories. The event celebrates players, coaches, clubs, national teams, and emerging talents who have made a significant impact over the past year.
This year’s ceremony will be co-hosted by Beninese music icon Angélique Kidjo and Moroccan comedian Oualass, adding a blend of continental artistry and humour to the gala.
Guests will also enjoy performances by Moroccan singer Douaa Lahyaoui, Congolese legend Awilo Longomba, and Ghanaian Afrobeats star Fuse ODG.
A total of 12 categories will be presented on the night, including the headline honours of African Player of the Year and African Women’s Player of the Year.
However, due to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, the winners for Women’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, and Women’s Club of the Year will be announced at a later date.
CAF has also unveiled the top three nominees across several categories:
Men’s Categories
African Player of the Year:
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria/Galatasaray)
Goalkeeper of the Year:
Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al Hilal), Munir Mohamedi (Morocco/RS Berkane), Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Interclub Player of the Year:
Mohamed Chibi (Morocco/Pyramids), Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco/RS Berkane), Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
Men’s Coach of the Year:
Bubista (Cape Verde), Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco U-20), Walid Regragui (Morocco)
Young Player of the Year:
Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford), Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/Ajax), Tylon Smith (South Africa/QPR)
Men’s National Team of the Year:
Cape Verde, Morocco, Morocco U-20
Men’s Club of the Year:
Mamelodi Sundowns, Pyramids, RS Berkane
Women’s Categories
African Women’s Player of the Year:
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria/PSG), Ghizlaine Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal), Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year:
Andile Dlamini (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco/AS FAR), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Brighton)
Young Women’s Player of the Year:
Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Nigeria/Bayelsa Queens), Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR), Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
Women’s National Team:
Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria
With Morocco heavily represented across numerous categories and hosting the ceremony for another year, anticipation is high as the continent awaits the crowning of Africa’s football royalty.
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