Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Stanley Nwabali have earned nominations in this year’s CAF Awards, while reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman was conspicuously omitted, according to CAF’s official announcements.
Osimhen is among the ten contenders for the Men’s Player of the Year category. Meanwhile, Nwabali has been shortlisted in the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year list, positioning Nigeria strongly in two major individual awards.
Lookman’s absence from the squad of nominees has stirred surprise among fans, considering his recent accolade as African Footballer of the Year in 2024, and his strong performances for club and country.
CAF’s nomination panel—which includes technical committee members, coaches, legends, and media representatives—evaluated player performances from January to October 2025 across domestic leagues, continental tournaments, and national team appearances.
The awards will be conferred later in the year, and the omission of Lookman adds intrigue to the race. His exclusion may reflect CAF’s emphasis on either recent form or continental competition impact.
Why it matters: The nominations suggest Nigeria continues to produce world-class players, but the decision to leave out Lookman could spark debate about recognition criteria, fairness, and the future direction of Africa’s football awards system.
