The Moroccan capital of Rabat will once again play host to the stars of African football when the CAF Awards 2025 take centre stage on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed this Friday.

The glamorous ceremony, scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT / 20:00 Cairo time), will celebrate the best players, coaches, clubs, and national teams across the continent whose performances have defined African football over the past year.

According to CAF’s official statement, the annual event “will reward the best players, coaches, clubs and national teams on the continent for the past season,” underscoring its status as the premier stage for recognising football excellence in Africa.

Rabat’s selection as host city marks a return to familiar territory — the Moroccan capital has in recent years become a preferred venue for major continental events, reflecting the North African nation’s growing influence in African football administration and infrastructure.

Among the awards to be presented on the night are:

• CAF African Player of the Year (Men and Women)
• CAF Coach of the Year (Men and Women)
• National Team of the Year (Men and Women)
• Club of the Year (Men and Women)
• CAF Young Player of the Year

The spotlight will once again shine on the prestigious African Player of the Year categories, where Nigeria’s stars have dominated recent editions. Ademola Lookman claimed the men’s crown in 2024, following compatriot Victor Osimhen’s triumph in 2023. Senegal’s Sadio Mané had earlier lifted the title in 2019 and 2022, while Egypt’s Mohamed Salah won in 2018.

On the women’s side, Zambia’s Barbra Banda is the reigning queen after her 2024 win, succeeding Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, who captured the award in 2019, 2022, and 2023. South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana remains memorable as the 2018 winner.

This year’s event is expected to draw top football administrators, legends, and dignitaries from across Africa and beyond. With Morocco hosting yet another high-profile CAF ceremony, Rabat is poised to reaffirm its status as the epicentre of African football celebration.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the 13 nominees for the prestigious Goal of the Year category at the upcoming CAF Awards 2025, giving football fans across the continent the exclusive power to determine the winner.

Curated by the CAF Technical Panel, the shortlist celebrates some of the most breathtaking goals scored between January 6 and October 15, 2025, across various CAF competitions — from youth and women’s tournaments to the elite men’s Champions League. Each goal reflects individual brilliance, technical mastery, and the passion that defines African football.

Voting opens on Thursday, November 6, and closes on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Supporters can cast their votes via a dedicated portal — CAFOnline.com — or through CAF’s official social media channels. Fan participation will determine 100% of the final result, making this the only category at the CAF Awards decided solely by the public.

The winner will be unveiled at the CAF Awards Gala, where the continent’s best players, coaches, and teams will be honoured for their achievements during the period under review.

Below is the full list of nominees for the CAF Goal of the Year 2025:

• Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco) – Morocco vs Tanzania – #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17
• Anas Roshdy (Egypt) – Egypt vs South Africa – #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17
• Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) – Burkina Faso vs Cameroon – #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17
• Barbra Banda (Zambia) – Zambia vs Morocco – #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024
• Calvin Fely (Madagascar) – Madagascar vs Morocco – #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024
• Clement Mzize (Tanzania) – Young Africans vs TP Mazembe – #TotalEnergiesCAFCL
• Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco) – Morocco vs Nigeria – #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024
• Ibrahim Adel (Egypt) – Pyramids FC vs ES Tunis – #TotalEnergiesCAFCL
• Jean-Claude Girumugisha (Burundi) – Al Hilal SC vs MC Alger – #TotalEnergiesCAFCL
• Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo (South Africa) – South Africa vs Uganda – #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024
• Oussama Lamlioui (Morocco) – Morocco vs Madagascar – #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024
• Refiloe Jane (South Africa) – South Africa vs Mali – #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024
• Soufiane Bayazid (Algeria) – Algeria vs Uganda – #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024

The diverse list highlights the depth of African football talent, featuring men’s, women’s, and youth competitions — and a strong Moroccan presence with four nominees.

Fans eager to relive these spectacular goals and make their voices heard can visit the official voting platform at cafawardsgoty.com.

The CAF Awards 2025 will celebrate the best of African football — where passion meets excellence and every vote counts.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the shortlist for the 2025 CAF Awards (Men’s Categories) — and it is Morocco that has emerged as the overwhelming powerhouse of African football, dominating the nominations across almost every category.

From players and coaches to clubs and national teams, Morocco’s presence is unmatched, reflecting the country’s sustained investment and success at all levels of the game. Meanwhile, Nigeria, one of Africa’s traditional football giants, finds itself with only three representatives on the list — a modest showing compared to Morocco’s widespread recognition.

Morocco’s Widespread Representation

Morocco’s dominance cuts across the entire spectrum of African football. The Atlas Lions and their U-20 team are both nominated for National Team of the Year, underlining the country’s depth at both senior and youth levels.

On the Player of the Year list, Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi and RS Berkane’s Oussama Lamlioui fly the Moroccan flag, joined by other African luminaries such as Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.

Morocco’s continental clubs also made a clean sweep in the Interclub Player and Club of the Year categories. RS Berkane and AS FAR feature prominently alongside Egyptian giants Pyramids and Al Ahly, reflecting Moroccan clubs’ continued excellence in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

In coaching, Walid Regragui, who guided Morocco to historic World Cup and AFCON campaigns, is joined by fellow countrymen Tarik Sektioui, Moine Chaabani, and Mohamed Ouahbi, underscoring Morocco’s strong coaching pipeline.

Young Moroccan talents also dominate the Men’s Young Player of the Year list, with Abdellah Ouazane (Ajax), Othmane Maamma (Watford), and Houssam Essadak (US Touarga) among the continent’s brightest prospects.

Overall, Morocco secured more than a dozen nominations across categories — far ahead of any other nation — cementing its reputation as the new benchmark for football development in Africa.

Nigeria’s Limited Presence

In sharp contrast, Nigeria — a perennial football heavyweight — earned just three nominations. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) made the shortlist for Player of the Year, while Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United) earned a well-deserved nod in the Goalkeeper of the Year category for his AFCON heroics. Young defender Daniel Bameyi (NK Primorje, Slovenia) was listed among the Young Player of the Year nominees.

Conspicuously missing from the list are the Super Eagles, who failed to make the National Team of the Year shortlist despite finishing as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Egypt and South Africa Also Strongly Represented

Behind Morocco, Egypt and South Africa also posted strong showings. Egyptian clubs Pyramids FC and Al Ahly dominated interclub categories, while South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and national team players featured prominently across multiple lists.

CAF Awards 2025: Setting the Stage

CAF said the nominations were drawn from performances between 6 January and 15 October 2025, selected by a panel of its Technical & Development Committee, CAF Legends, coaches, and media representatives.

Winners will be announced at the CAF Awards Gala 2025, to be held later this year at a venue yet to be confirmed.

As the countdown begins, Morocco’s sweeping nominations underscore a remarkable football renaissance — while Nigeria, despite its rich pedigree, will be hoping its few nominees can salvage pride on Africa’s biggest football awards night.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H