Brghton of England goalkpeer, Chiamaka Nnadozie was Nigeria’s sole winner on Wednesday night at the CAF African football awards, as Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade both failed to clinch top spot in their respective categories.
Sports247 reports that, while Osimhen and Ajibade both lost out to Moroccan plsyers in the male and female categories for Africa’s best of 2025, Nnadozie clinched the prize of top goalkeeper for a record third time on the trot.
Read Also: Super Eagles Linked With ‘Non Qualified’ World Cup Tournament
In contrast with Nnadozie’s night of glory, Osimhen missed the chance of a second title in three years, as the men’s prize went to Paris-Saint Germain of France right-back, Achraf Hakimi, while his compatriot, Ghizlane Chebbak won for the women.
Hakimi was a clear cut favourite ahead of Egypt’s Muhammed Salah and Osimhen, due to his sterling form this year; in which he won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, French Ligue 1 and Coupe de France, then reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.
He is the first defender to be named Africa’s best player since former TP Mazembe centre-back, Bwanga Tshimen won it in 1973, and he is also the first Moroccan winner since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
On her part, Chebbak has been consistent for club and country this year and was the top scorer at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July, where Morocco lost to Nigeria in the final.
She moved from AS FAR to Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, where she is a teammate of six-time CAF Award winner, Asisat Oshoala.
Ajibade was hoping to follow the steps of her fellow-FC Robo Queens of Lagos product, Oshoala, but she was edged aside by Chebbak, who is the first winner of the award from Morocco.
Another Moroccan, Yassine Bounou won the men’s goalkeeper of the year award, while Nnadozie retained the women’s award for the third consecutive year, having helped the Super Falcons secure the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
