CAF Awards voting sparks controversy as Nigerian delegates face criticism for ballots that appeared to undermine top performers.
The release of full CAF Awards voting results has triggered controversy in Nigeria, after voting documents revealed that several Nigerian representatives ranked the country’s leading footballers unusually low in key categories.
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Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi won the African Footballer of the Year award with 533 points, comfortably ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah on 317 and Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, who finished third with 240 despite a prolific season in which he secured the Turkish double and topped the league scoring charts.
Attention in Nigeria swiftly shifted from Hakimi’s widely praised triumph to the ballots cast by the country’s own delegates.
Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi, serving as a CAF Technical Expert, drew sharp criticism for placing Osimhen fifth and awarding him only one point.
The decision fuelled intense online debate, with users questioning whether national representatives had acted in good faith.
By comparison, Nigeria coach Eric Chelle and captain William Troost-Ekong both ranked Osimhen first, placing Hakimi immediately behind him.
The scrutiny extended into the women’s categories.
Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak won Women’s Player of the Year, with Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo finishing second and fourth.
While Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu backed both players strongly, Nigerian media representative Samuel Ahmadu ranked Okoronkwo third and Ajibade fifth, prompting further backlash from supporters who argued the votes appeared dismissive of top performers.
Ahmadu placed reigning Goalkeeper of the Year Chiamaka Nnadozie fifth despite her strong season and also ranked Nigeria’s Shakirat Moshood fifth in the Women’s Young Player category.
In the Women’s National Team of the Year voting, he notably placed Tanzania first and Nigeria fifth, even though the Super Falcons ultimately won the award with 106 points.
Analysts and supporters highlighted broader concerns over the CAF voting system. Critics argued that inconsistencies, paired with the revelation that nearly half of the 54 national coaches, captains and media representatives did not vote, weakened the awards’ credibility.
Some suggested that ballot instructions may have been misinterpreted, while others pointed to deeper tensions within Nigerian football.
The CAF Awards were held on 19 November in Rabat, Morocco, with voting involving national team coaches and captains, Technical Study Group members and media delegates.
Fan voting applied only to the Goal of the Year category, while eligibility covered performances between 6 January and 15 October 2025.
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As debate intensifies across social media, questions remain about whether Nigeria’s delegates acted objectively and whether CAF should strengthen oversight to ensure the process reflects merit rather than personal sentiment or misunderstanding.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
