CAF Awards 2025: Nigeria’s nominees and what the nominations actually mean

When CAF publishes its nominees, the conversation that follows isn’t just about trophies — it’s about recognition, momentum and the practical business of football. In the 2025 CAF nominees list, Nigeria’s presence is strong: Victor Osimhen and Stanley Nwabali appear on men’s shortlists; Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Esther Okoronkwo feature on the women’s lists. Flying Eagles captain Daniel Bameyi is also named in youth categories — a sign of depth across age groups.

What a nomination actually does

First, a nomination is a magnifier. It brings media attention, invites scouting conversations and nudges commercial interest. A CAF Awards 2025 Nigeria nominees nod does not guarantee a transfer or a mega-deal — but it re-frames how clubs, agents and sponsors talk about a player. For a player like Victor Osimhen, already on the global radar, the nomination becomes a talking point in transfer rooms and pundit panels. For goalkeepers such as Stanley Nwabali or Chiamaka Nnadozie, technical metrics — saves, match-defining moments — get dissected on air and in text.

Why women’s nominations matter more commercially right now

Let’s be honest: women’s football still fights for sustained investment. Nominations for Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Esther Okoronkwo increase visibility in markets that are only now building real commercial value for the women’s game. The nomination becomes both a CV line and a sales argument for clubs and sponsors looking to back marketable talent.

How Nigeria’s football ecosystem reacts (and amplifies)

Nigerian fans are communal promoters: they clip highlights, start threads and drive narratives that influence broadcasters and sponsors. Shortlists already generate debate on radio and social platforms, and that noise often becomes part of the player’s public dossier — for better or worse.

Local media coverage underscores this: multiple Nigerian outlets flagged the names quickly after CAF’s release.

The practical, measurable effects to watch

• Market visibility: increased scouting attention and potential sponsorship conversations.

• Transfer windows: nominations can accelerate transfer chatter during windows and influence asking prices.

• Media value: more features, podcast invites and highlight reels that lift social metrics and negotiation leverage.

CAF Awards 2025 Nigeria nominees: What 99Pluz will track next

We’ll run short profiles of each Nigerian nominee so readers — whether casual fans or industry watchers — understand the stats and moments behind each name. We’ll also track CAF’s process (each ten-man list is trimmed to a final three) and any official reactions from clubs, agents or sponsors that reveal concrete commercial impact.

Here’s the gist

Nominations = visibility; visibility = conversations that can turn into commercial and career momentum.

This isn’t just headline currency — in football, the story around a player affects market value.

Let’s be honest, the shortlist itself doesn’t guarantee anything — but it changes the story, and in football that story matters a lot.