Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Stanley Nwabali have earned nominations for top honours at the 2025 CAF Awards, but Nigeria’s national team was missing from the shortlist for the National Team of the Year category.
CAF released the full list of nominees on Wednesday, with Osimhen making the final ten-man shortlist for the Men’s Player of the Year award. The Nigerian striker will compete against some of the continent’s finest, including Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Oussama Lamlioui, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Congo’s Fiston Mayele, Cameroon’s Frank Anguissa, Gabon’s Denis Bouanga, and Senegal’s Ilimane Ndiaye and Pape Sarr.
Osimhen, who clinched the award in 2023, had a remarkable season with Galatasaray, scoring 26 league goals to guide the Turkish giants to the Super Lig title. His performance also earned him a record-breaking €75 million transfer from Napoli.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was also recognised after his standout year for both club and country, earning a nomination for the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. He will go head-to-head with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, and Cameroon’s Andre Onana.
In the youth category, Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi also made the cut for the Young Player of the Year award, highlighting Nigeria’s presence in the individual categories.
On the women’s side, Super Falcons forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo were both nominated for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award.
However, despite individual brilliance, the Super Eagles failed to secure a nomination for National Team of the Year
