Serious gbege don bust for Nigeria after Confederation of African Football (CAF) release di full voting breakdown for di 2025 CAF Awards. Many Nigerians don begin question di fairness and credibility of di whole process, especially as e show say some Nigerian representatives vote against dia own top-performing players.
Morocco star Achraf Hakimi win African Footballer of the Year with 533 points — almost double wetin Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen gather join. Salah come second with 317 points, while Osimhen land third with 240 points, even though e win Turkish double and finish as top scorer for Galatasaray.
But na di voting pattern wey provoke Nigerians pass.
Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi, wey serve as CAF Technical Expert, shock fans as e put Osimhen for fifth position, give am only one point.
One social media person, Mastermind (@dami_mastermind), shout:
“Amokachi voted Osimhen fifth? Wt* mehn.”
Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and captain William Troost-Ekong vote Osimhen first, Hakimi second.
Di matter no end for di men’s category. For women side, Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak win Women’s Player of di Year. Nigeria players Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo finish second and fourth.
Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu vote Okoronkwo and Ajibade first and second, but Nigerian media representative Samuel Ahmadu put Okoronkwo third and Ajibade fifth — something wey vex Nigerians online.
Bimbola Royale (@bimbolaroyale) talk say:
“Ahmadu’s voting no just spiteful, e condescending.”
Ahmadu own ballot come raise more wahala as e put Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for fifth, even as her coach and teammates all put her first.
E still put Flamingos captain Shakirat Moshood for fifth for Women’s Young Player category.
For Women’s National Team of the Year, Ahmadu shock people again as e put Tanzania first and Nigeria fifth, even though Super Falcons later win di award with 106 points.
Many fans and analysts don dey drag CAF plus di voting system.
One person, Muri (@CarBarZin), yarn:
“Half of di 54 associations no even vote. This one dey kill credibility. Voting suppose be compulsory.”
Another analyst, Gboyega Olutade (@G_coachtee), talk say di system get too many flaws.
Some pipo dey reason say maybe Ahmadu misunderstand di voting instructions.
Sports journalist Solace Chukwu (@TheOddSolace) talk:
“E likely say e no get anything against Super Falcons. E fit just misread di instructions vote am backward.”
But others no gree.
One fan, @iamajideabayomi, talk say:
“These votes dey show deeper issues with NFF or some players. Na distasteful something.”
Di 2025 CAF Awards happen November 19 for Rabat, Morocco. Coaches, captains, CAF Technical Study Group members and media reps from all 54 CAF member countries participate for di voting. Na only Goal of the Year category fans fit vote. CAF talk say dem take performances between January 6 and October 15, 2025, as basis.
As di debates dey scatter social media, many Nigerians dey ask whether dia own delegates act fairly, and whether CAF go tighten future voting rules to make sure merit dey come first before sentiment or misunderstanding.
