On Sunday, the Confederation of African Football announced the finalists for the CAF Awards, set to take place on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco. The most anticipated trophy is for the African Player of the Year 2025, with three finalists in contention. “Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool) has once again led Liverpool to great heights in the 2024/25 season: a Premier League title, 29 goals, and 18 assists in 38 starts, totaling 47 decisive contributions. An elite record, alongside qualification for the 2026 World Cup with Egypt. Always one step ahead,” said CAF as they detailed the other finalists.
“Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain). A vital player for PSG, Hakimi has won numerous trophies: UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup final. Additionally, he helped Morocco qualify for the World Cup. A total impact, from one end of the pitch to the other. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Galatasaray). Always eager to score, Osimhen netted 37 goals in 41 matches during the 2024/25 season. A scoring machine and natural leader, the Nigerian forward continued his prolific form at the beginning of the new season. Indispensable.” This trio will compete for the prestigious title, although many see Hakimi as the favorite. However, this selection has sparked controversy, with several voices criticizing the omission of Sehrou Guirassy.
The Guirassy Family is Upset
His brother, Karamba, expressed his frustration on Instagram. “A top 3 that is a total disgrace. Top scorer in the Champions League, in the Club World Cup, top African scorer, 21st in the Ballon d’Or, nominated among FIFA’s best forwards, and 2nd top scorer in the Bundesliga.” Guinean media also share this sentiment, with Guinée 28 stating, “The major omission remains Guinean forward Serhou Guirassy from Dortmund, who, despite his remarkable season, has been excluded from the final trio for the African Player of the Year award.” His brother and agent, Karamba Guirassy, called this an injustice, raising concerns about the voting system.
Guinée News echoed this view, stating, “Sehrou Guirassy has been left out of the final trio. The Borussia Dortmund forward, despite an outstanding season, particularly marked by a Golden Shoe in the UEFA Champions League, has not made the final cut.” Africa Guinée expressed similar astonishment, noting that “Guirassy, who had an excellent season with Borussia Dortmund, where he secured the Golden Shoe in the UEFA Champions League, is not among the three finalists.” Guinéen 360 also stepped in to defend the Dortmund attacker.
A Controversial Omission
“Best African 2025: CAF ignores Sehrou Guirassy in its final list. For his second nomination for the African Player of the Year, the Guinean international won’t be among the finalists, as revealed in the latest update from CAF. Surprising many, Sehrou Guirassy — who had a remarkable season with Borussia Dortmund, culminating in a Golden Shoe in the Champions League — is not part of the chosen trio for the final verdict.” Furthermore, Africa Sport stated their surprise, saying, “No finals for Serhou Guirassy this year in the race for the African Player of the Year 2025. The forward of the national team and Borussia Dortmund is not among the trio competing for this prestigious individual accolade.”
The publication continued, “Serhou Guirassy drops out of the running. A notable absence for the Guinean, who is ranked 21st in the recent Ballon d’Or France Football. On the African stage, the forward was a finalist in the previous edition, confirming his rising status.” In Germany, where he plays for Dortmund, the reaction was similarly surprised, as reported by Bild. “A decision by the Confederation of African Football has generated considerable noise. Guirassy was overlooked for the ‘African Player of the Year’ award despite his exceptional performances across Europe last season. The nominees include Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt). Many fans and experts are questioning the reasons behind this exclusion.” Some believe he deserved to be among the top 3 finalists more than Osimhen. Nevertheless, the decision has been made, and Guirassy will not participate.
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