In a surprising turn of events, Salah Osimhen miss out African Player of the Year honors after Achraf Hakimi was crowned the 2025 CAF Player of the Year. The Paris Saint-Germain star clinched the top prize following a standout season in which he helped his club secure both the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 titles.
Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen had also been shortlisted for the prestigious award. Salah, who enjoyed another prolific campaign with Liverpool, and Osimhen, who led Galatasaray with important goals, were unable to gather enough votes to dethrone Hakimi.
CAF’s voting panel considered performance across both club and national play between January 6 and October 15, 2025. Hakimi’s all-round contribution, leadership, and consistency gave him the upper hand in the contest.
The news has sparked debate among fans and analysts. Many were surprised that neither Salah nor Osimhen won, given their high-impact seasons. While Hakimi’s triumph is widely praised, some view the omission of his fellow finalists as controversial.
On social media, supporters of Salah expressed disappointment but acknowledged Hakimi’s deserving campaign. “He had a phenomenal year,” one fan wrote. Another urged CAF to expand the shortlist in future editions to better reflect Africa’s attacking talent.
For Hakimi, winning this award marks a historic moment. He becomes one of the few defenders to claim this honor, illustrating that excellence in football can come from all positions, not just those on the scoreboard.
For Salah and Osimhen, the loss may serve as motivation. Both players remain key figures on the continent, and their ambition for future CAF honors will certainly be watched closely.
#vitus@GTS
