A fresh wave of African football talent has made headlines after four standout players from the continent were named among the nominees for this year’s FIFA The Best Football Awards 2025.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Malawi’s Temwa Chaŵinga, and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie are all in contention for major honors, showcasing Africa’s growing influence on world football.
Salah, who has been exceptional for Liverpool, earned a spot on the shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. He will be up against heavyweights like Kylian Mbappé (France/Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City), and Vinícius Júnior (Brazil/Real Madrid).
Achraf Hakimi, the dynamic right back for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco, is the second African nominee in the Men’s category.
On the women’s side, Temwa Chaŵinga has rewritten history by becoming the first Malawian footballer ever to be nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Player award.
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie also grabbed global attention after being shortlisted for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award, following a standout year with Paris FC and the Super Falcons.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain leads the club nominations, with Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha making the shortlist, highlighting the French champions’ impressive dominance this season.
