The Confederation of African Football has officially chosen Rabat, Morocco, as the venue for the 2025 CAF Awards, with the ceremony fixed for Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The event is expected to bring together some of the continent’s biggest football names for an evening dedicated to celebrating excellence across the African game.
In its official announcement, CAF stated that the ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. local time, which also matches the time in Nigeria. With Rabat again trusted to host such a major football occasion, the city continues to strengthen its place as one of the continent’s preferred destinations for high-profile CAF events.
Rabat’s reputation for staging major sporting gatherings has grown steadily in recent years, and the choice of the Moroccan capital reflects CAF’s confidence in its ability to deliver another memorable ceremony. The night is expected to attract leading players, coaches, administrators, and football stakeholders from across Africa in what is usually one of the most glamorous dates on the continental football calendar.
Nigeria is set to have a strong presence among the nominees this year, with players from both the Super Eagles and Super Falcons earning recognition in key categories. Victor Osimhen, who won the African Player of the Year award in 2023, will once again be one of the major names in focus after another notable campaign in Europe. Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has also been shortlisted for Goalkeeper of the Year, while Daniel Bameyi earned a place among the contenders for Young Player of the Year.
In the women’s section, Nigerian stars are also well represented. Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo have both been named among the nominees for African Women’s Player of the Year, while Chiamaka Nnadozie secured a place on the shortlist for Goalkeeper of the Year following her performances for both Paris FC and the Super Falcons. According to Gossip News Now, the number of Nigerian nominees reflects the country’s continued influence in African football across both the men’s and women’s game.
Beyond Nigeria’s hopefuls, several other top African stars are expected to light up the awards race. Among the notable names in contention are Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Morocco duo Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou, as well as Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr. Their inclusion adds even more weight to a ceremony already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched football events on the continent.
The awards will not be limited to player honours alone. CAF is also expected to recognise excellence in several other areas, including coaching, club achievement, interclub performance, and national team success. That broader scope ensures the ceremony remains a full celebration of African football rather than simply an individual prize event.
Commentary and Analysis
The decision to stage the 2025 CAF Awards in Rabat once again highlights Morocco’s growing status as a central hub for African football. From infrastructure to event hosting, the country has increasingly positioned itself at the heart of the continental game, and this latest selection reinforces that image.
For Nigeria, the nominations offer another sign of the country’s enduring football relevance. Having contenders across multiple categories means the spotlight will not rest on one individual alone, but on the wider strength of Nigerian talent. The awards night in Rabat will therefore be more than a celebration; it will also serve as a measure of which nations and players are currently shaping the direction of African football.
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