Assahafa.com
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the nominees for the 2025 Young Player of the Year awards in both the men’s and women’s categories. The full list was part of CAF’s overall nominees announcement for the 2025 awards.
The Young Players category features some big names, and also a few new names who caught attention based on their performances for clubs and national under-age teams in the last season.
The shortlist recognizes performances based on a player’s club form, performances in CAF club competitions, and for age-group national teams during the review period.
Here are the nominees for the two Young Player categories as announced by CAF:
Women’s Young Player of the Year nominees:
- Habiba Essam (Egypt/Al Ahly)
- Habiba Sabry (Egypt/FC Masar)
- Stella Nyamekye (Ghana/Fort Lauderdale United)
- Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
- Winfrida Gerald (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
- Ester Maseke Marwa (Tanzania/JKT Queens)
- Adji Ndiaye (Senegal/AS Bambey)
- Shakirat Abidemi Moshood (Nigeria/Bayelsa Queens)
- Mercy Chipasula (Zambia/Mighty Wanderers)
- Ruth Mukoma (Zambia/Zesco United)
Men’s Young Player of the Year nominees:
- Asharaf Tapsoba (Burkina Faso/Réal du Faso)
- Alynho Haidara (Ivory Coast/ FC Mainz 05)
- Noah Sadiki (DR Congo/ Sunderland)
- Abdellah Ouazane (Morocco/ Ajax Amsterdam)
- Houssan Essadak (Morocco/ US Touarga)
- Othmane Maama (Morocco/ Watford FC)
- Daniel Bameyi (Nigeria)
- Momoh Kamara (Sierra Leone/ Minnesota United)
- Mbekezile Mbokazi (South Africa/ Orlando Pirates)
- Tylon Smith (Zimbabwe/ Queens Park Rangers FC)
Observers — and social media — are already debating the shortlists: the women’s list is heavy on talent that shone in continental women’s competitions and emerging domestic leagues, while the men’s list is a mix of U-20 standouts and young pros who impressed in club football this season.
For many football fans, the absence of Morocco’s U-20 striker Yassir Zabiri from the men’s young-player shortlist has been noted. Zabiri’s form at the U20 World Cup was nothing short of exceptional, so his inclusion was a surprise.
However, there is an explanation: the period under review for the 2025 CAF Awards — used to evaluate the performances — is from January 6, 2025, to October 15, 2025. This timeframe excludes Zabiri.
Now, CAF will announce the winners once the voting and adjudication process is done. Reports say the awards ceremony will be held later this year in Morocco. That would be the third consecutive time Morocco will host the awards in as many years, and add to an already busy Moroccan football calendar which includes the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Source: Morocco word news
