African Player of the Year shortlist released, Salah-Hakimi are among the nominees

The organizers have announced the names of the nominees for the 2025 African Player of the Year award. According to the list of nominees, Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah and PSG's Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi are among the top 10.

Salah came fourth and Hakimi sixth in this year's Ballon d'Or list. Salah has won the African Player of the Year award twice before. However, Hakimi has established himself as a favorite in this list for the first time.

Apart from 33-year-old Salah, two other English Premier League players have made it to the top 10. They are Tottenham midfielder Pepe Mata Sarr and Everton striker Illiman Ndiaye.

There are also two Africa-based nominees on the list - Congolese striker Phiston Mayele of Egyptian club and African champions Pyramids and Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane striker Oussama Lamlioui.

Last year's winner, Nigerian striker Ademoya Lukman, did not make the shortlist for this year's African Player of the Year. However, his teammate Victor Oshimene, the star of Turkish club Galatasaray and the 2023 winner, is on the list.

Members of the Technical and Development Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), coaches, former players and selected media representatives vote to select the 10 nominees.

Shortlist for the Player of the Year: Andre Frank Jambo-Angusia (Napoli), Fitton Mayele (Pyramids), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles), Serhu Guirassi (Borussia Dortmund), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Oussama Lamlioui (Renaissance Barca), Victor Oshimen (Galatasaray), Illiman Ndiaye (Everton), Pepe Matar Sarr (Tottenham).