Mohamed Salah African Player of the Year hopes boosted as the Liverpool star makes the final three-man shortlist alongside Achraf Hakimi and Victor Osimhen.
Salah’s extraordinary influence at Liverpool was underlined once again last season as he delivered a level of consistency and brilliance few players in world football can match.
The Egyptian forward didn’t just shine he dominated. Sweeping all major individual accolades in England,
Salah became the first player to win a record third PFA Player of the Year award, while also finishing as both the Premier League’s top scorer and most creative playmaker. Such a rare double speaks volumes about his all-round quality and enduring importance to the team.
But even amid those personal triumphs, the 2025/26 campaign has posed different questions for Liverpool under Arne Slot.
Results have been inconsistent, performances patchy, and the transition under a new head coach has been anything but smooth.
While supporters are grappling with the bigger picture, the international break has once again dropped Salah’s name into the centre of the conversation not for criticism, but for recognition.
As confirmed by Liverpoolfc.com, Salah has been officially named on the final shortlist for the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year, placing him among Africa’s elite once again.
Only three players remain in contention: Salah, Achraf Hakimi and Victor Osimhen. The winner will be announced on 19 November in Rabat. For the Liverpool star, it marks yet another opportunity to reclaim the award he last won in 2018.
That continental recognition arrives shortly after another familiar, and frustrating, outcome in Europe. Salah finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or voting matching his best ever placing but still falling short of what many felt his performances deserved.
For a player who has set relentless standards season after season, the sense persists that global accolades have at times undervalued his contributions.
The African award, though, places Salah firmly back in the spotlight. The original ten-man shortlist has been trimmed to three, and the Egyptian King’s inclusion underlines the scale of his impact during Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph and Egypt’s successful qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Salah’s record in African football’s premier individual award is already historic. He claimed back-to-back crowns in 2017 and 2018, only for the ceremony to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
In the years since, Sadio Mane twice lifted the trophy before Victor Osimhen took it in 2023 and Achraf Hakimi claimed the honour last year. This time, those two recent winners provide his stiffest competition.
Hakimi, in particular, has a compelling case. The Moroccan right-back was central to Paris Saint-Germain’s treble-winning season, delivering nine goals and 12 assists across 48 appearances and even scoring in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. His blend of defensive solidity and attacking dynamism made him one of Europe’s standout defenders.
Osimhen, meanwhile, enjoyed a prolific campaign after his move to Galatasaray, scoring 37 goals and firing the Turkish giants to the league title. His explosive presence and ruthlessness in front of goal remain unquestionable.
Yet even with such strong rivals, Salah’s season arguably stands apart. He was the driving force behind Liverpool’s domestic success, delivering performances of leadership, consistency and big-game quality throughout the year.
When the Reds needed moments, Salah provided them. When games tightened, he found solutions. And when the season demanded a talisman, he stepped forward as he has year after year.
Away from the awards stage, the Egyptian FA have opted to grant Salah a rest for their upcoming meeting with Cape Verde, confirming his “non-participation” earlier this week.
Slot and his staff will hope the brief downtime proves beneficial. Liverpool resume their domestic campaign this weekend against Nottingham Forest, and a refreshed Salah could provide the spark needed to help stabilise an unsettled period.
As the continent prepares for the CAF awards ceremony, the sense around Liverpool is one of quiet confidence. Mohamed Salah, Africa’s most decorated forward of his generation, has his best chance in years to reclaim the title. And after everything he has delivered across the last 12 months, he deserves it.
