Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams surrendered the CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award to Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, while Amajita starlet Tylon Smith missed out on the Young Player of the Year award on Wednesday evening.
The 2025 CAF awards ceremony was held at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, Morocco. The Al Hilal shot-stopper, Bounou, was named as Africa’s best between the sticks, taking over the crown from Mamelodi Sundowns’ Williams, who claimed it in 2024.
On an evening where all South African nominees failed to win in their respective categories, Williams and RS Berkane goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi watched as Bounou lifted the coveted gong.
SMITH LOSES OUT ON CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
South Africa Under-20 international defender Tylon Smith was pipped to the Young Player of the Year award by Morocco’s Othmane Maamma.
Watford FC striker Maamma’s prospects of bagging this gong appeared to have tilted in his favour after the Atlas Cubs won the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
However, the Queens Park Rangers centre-back might have been left with his head held high following his final nomination. This is a category Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi initially featured in before falling by the wayside to make the final list.
It is also a development that could leave Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka a satisfied man after watching two of his players being mentioned among Africa’s best.
PYRAMIDS FC GET THE BETTER OF SUNDOWNS AGAIN
African champions Pyramids FC beat Mamelodi Sundowns to the Men’s Club of the Year. The Brazilians were up against the Egyptian moneybags and RS Berkane.
After losing to Pyramids in last season’s CAF Champions League final, Masandawana had hoped the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup would help them be crowned as Africa’s best club. But they failed to advance past the group stage, although they recorded a victory over Ulsan HD FC and drew 0-0 with respectable opposition in Brazilian side Fluminense.
The 4-3 defeat by Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund could not help their case.
NIGERIA’S NNADOZIE GIVES SUNDOWNS KEEOER DLAMINI NO CHANCE
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ Andile Dlamini missed out on the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie bagged this award for the second year running.
AS FAR and Morocco’s number-one shot-stopper, Khadija Er-Rmichi, also missed out after being a finalist.
Marumo Gallants midfielder Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane had their goals failing to come out as the Goal of the Year after being finalists.
2025 CAF AWARDS WINNERS:
- Men’s African Footballer of the Year: Achraf Hakimi [Paris Saint-Germain/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 U-20]
- 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]
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