CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
Williams won this award last year and is shortlisted again. He helped Mamelodi Sundowns to their eighth Betway Premiership title in a row and captained Bafana Bafana to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification, as well as assisting the Brazilians to reach the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
He is up against Munir Mohamedi, who played a key role in helping RS Berkane to the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title and their maiden Moroccan Botola Pro crown in 2024/25.
But his biggest challenge is likely to come from Yassine Bonou, who has been a model of consistency for Saudi club Al Hilal and the Morocco national team, whom he helped to FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification. He was named in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI in 2025.
CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies & South Africa)
Dlamini is a regular nominee for this award but perhaps had a better chance last year.
She helped Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies to another Women’s Super League title in South Africa, but they stumbled in the COSAFA qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League, and Banyana Banyana finished fourth at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
She is up against Khadija Er-Rmichi, the AS FAR and Morocco goalkeeper who had another strong year, but it is hard to look past Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie as the winner.
Nnadozie was exemplary in helping the Super Falcons to the WAFCON title as they beat Morocco in the final, and she was named Best Goalkeeper at that tournament.
She has also recently made a successful move to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Premier League as she seeks the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third year in a row.
CAF Men’s Young Player of the Year
Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers & South Africa U20)
Smith was a stalwart centre-back for South Africa as they claimed the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time, and he was named Player of the Tournament. That earned him a move to Queens Park Rangers.
He is up against midfielder Abdellah Ouazane, who was superb in guiding Morocco to the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations title, where the 16-year-old was named Player of the Tournament. He plays for Jong Ajax in the Netherlands.
But the standout candidate is Moroccan winger Othmane Maamma, who played a starring role for his country as they lifted the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025 trophy and was named Best Player at that tournament. It is hard to look past a player who achieves that level of success.
He also had a breakthrough season at French Ligue 1 side Montpellier before moving to Watford in England.
CAF Men’s Club of the Year
Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns extended their record number of consecutive South African league title wins to eight and also reached the final of the CAF Champions League 2024/25, where they lost to Egyptian side Pyramids.
They impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup as well, though they did not make it past the group stages after taking four points from their three games. It was a decent season, but one perhaps tinged with regret.
They are up against Pyramids, who lifted the CAF Champions League trophy for the first time as they stunned the continent but were deserved winners.
Moroccan side RS Berkane became joint-record three-time winners of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2024/25 as they beat Tanzania’s Simba SC in the final and also won a maiden Moroccan Botola Pro title to cap a wonderful year.
The smart money is on Pyramids, though.
CAF Goal of the Season
Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo & Refiloe Jane
This award is voted for by fans via an online poll, so it is likely to produce a populist winner, but there are two South Africans among the 13 goals shortlisted.
Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo scored a fine chipped effort for South Africa in their African Nations Championship clash against Uganda, spotting the keeper off his line from 35 yards out and lofting the ball into the top corner.
Banyana Banyana skipper Refiloe Jane is also shortlisted for her goal against Mali at the WAFCON in Morocco, which was a free-kick from the edge of the box. A nice goal, but not much more than that.
It would be a surprise if either wins.