The 2025 CAF awards didn’t turn out to be a big night for South African football, but for Morocco.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Queens Park Rangers defender Tylon Smith both lost out on the Goalkeeper of the Year and Young Player of the Year gongs.
SOUTH AFRICANS LOSE OUT ON CAF AWARDS
The event was held at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Rabat, Morocco.
Bafana Bafana goalie, Williams, who was named Africa’s best in 2024, saw the crown move north as Morocco’s Yassine Bounou claimed the prize.
Former Stellenbosch FC star, Tylon Smith, now playing his football in the English Championship for Queens Park Rangers, defender, lost out in the Men’s Young Player of the Year category to Othmane Maamma, fresh off Morocco U20’s historic FIFA World Cup triumph. Orlando Pirates’ Mbekezeli Mbokazi slipped out of the final shortlist after earning a nomination.
The CAF Awards winner for the Club of the Year saw CAF Champions League holders Pyramids FC beat Mamelodi Sundowns. Kabo Yellow Ladies’ Andile Dlamini missed out on the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Marumo Gallants midfielder Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane both missed out on the Goal of the Year award despite making the final shortlist.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
- Men’s African Footballer of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco)
- Women’s African Footballer of the Year: Ghizlane Chebbak (Al Hilal/Morocco)
- Men’s Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde)
- Men’s Club of the Year: Pyramids FC
- Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- Men’s National Team of the Year: Morocco U20
- Men’s Inter-club Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (Pyramids FC/DR Congo)
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion/Nigeria)
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Morocco)
- Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR/Morocco)
- Men’s Young Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Watford/Morocco)
- Goal of the Year: Clement Mzize (Young Africans/Tanzania)
- Women’s Referee of the Year: Samirah Nabadda (Uganda)
- Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Tabara Mbodji (Senegal)
- Men’s Referee of the Year: Omar Abdulkadir (Somalia)
- Men’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Liban Abdoulrazack (Djibouti).