Ranking the Top 5 African Contenders for the Men's Player of the Year 2025

Hakimi was instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain's historic treble, which included the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title. 

In the final, Hakimi opened the scoring against his former club, Inter Milan, contributing to a record 5–0 victory, the largest margin in Champions League final history. He also scored in the quarter-final against Aston Villa and in the semi-final against Arsenal.

Throughout the season, Hakimi's presence on the right flank was important, both defensively and offensively. His performances earned him the 2025 Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, awarded to the best African player in Ligue 1. For many, he is a top-two contender for the African Player of the Year award.

Mohamed Salah continued to be a cornerstone for Liverpool during the 2024-25 season, leading the club to its 20th Premier League title, breaking several individual records on the way. 

Some of the records he broke included the most goal contributions in a 38-game Premier League season (45) and being the first player to win the PL Player of the Season, Golden Boot and Playmaker Award in the same season.

His enduring excellence at both club and national levels keeps him firmly in contention for the CAF Men's Player of the Year award.

Osimhen entered the 2024-25 season on the back of a summer transfer tussle with Napoli. He eventually secured a loan deal to Turkish side Galatasaray, and it turned out to be a great one for the Nigerian striker. He netted 26 goals in 30 league matches, securing the Super Lig Golden Boot, and added 11 goals in the Europa League and Turkish Cup, totalling 37 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions.

His efforts resulted in a Super Lig and Turkish Cup double with Cimbom, while he broke the record for most goals by a foreign player in a season.

Guirassy enjoyed a solid individual season with Borussia Dortmund in 2024-25, becoming the club's top scorer with 34 goals across all competitions. In the UEFA Champions League, he netted 13 goals, including a historic hat-trick against Barcelona in the quarter-finals, making him the first African player to achieve this feat against the Spanish giants.

Lookman is the reigning African Player of the Year, and though Atalanta did not win a trophy this year, he still had a solid 2024-25 season.

Domestically, Lookman contributed 20 goals and six assists across all competitions, earning him a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year. He remains a strong contender to retain the title.

However, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) could be a decisive factor in the race for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year. A standout tournament performance, especially one that leads to the trophy or major individual accolades, often sways voters. With several top contenders heading to Morocco, AFCON offers a grand stage to separate the good from the great in the final stretch of the year.