Salah, Hakimi, Chawinga, and Nnadozie: Four African Stars Shortlisted for FIFA 2025 Awards

Switzerland, 8 November 2025 - Four African football stars have been named among the nominees for the 2025 FIFA The Best Awards, highlighting the continent’s growing impact on world football.

Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie are among those shortlisted for the global honors announced by FIFA on Thursday.

Salah, who continues to shine for Liverpool, was nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award. The two-time Premier League and UEFA Champions League winner will battle against global stars including France’s Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Norway’s Erling Haaland (Manchester City), and Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).

Salah’s leadership and consistency have helped Liverpool remain competitive both in England and Europe.

Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, also made the shortlist for the men’s award. The right-back has been outstanding for both club and country, playing a key role in PSG’s success in the French league and Morocco’s continued rise in African football.

On the women’s side, Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga made history by becoming the first-ever Malawian player to be nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Player Award. The forward has been in remarkable form for her Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda and the Malawi national team, earning praise for her speed and scoring ability.

Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, the captain of the Super Falcons, was listed among the nominees for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper Award. The 24-year-old had a standout year with Paris FC, where her saves in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and international tournaments have drawn global recognition.

French club Paris Saint-Germain dominated the men’s shortlist with several players nominated, including Ousmane Dembélé, Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, and Vitinha, showing the team’s strong presence in world football this year.

The FIFA The Best Awards ceremony is expected to take place early next year, celebrating players, coaches, and teams that have excelled across global football in 2025.