Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has been named in the final three-man shortlist for the 2025 CAF Player of the Year award.

The Galatasaray forward, who initially made the ten-man shortlist, earned his place in the final cut after a brilliant debut season in Turkey. Osimhen claimed a domestic double with Galatasaray and played a key role in steering Nigeria into the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa Playoffs in Morocco. He has also enjoyed a strong start to the new campaign, scoring nine goals in 12 appearances across the Turkish Lig and the UEFA Champions League.

The former Napoli star will go head-to-head with two favourites for the crown, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. Osimhen, who first won the prestigious award in 2023, will take pride in making a return to the top three after a challenging year at club level.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year award, missed out on the final shortlist. Nigeria U20 captain Daniel Bameyi also fell short after being initially listed for the Young Player of the Year category.

This year’s CAF Awards ceremony will celebrate the players, coaches, and teams who made outstanding contributions between 6 January and 15 October 2025. The event will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, in Rabat, Morocco.