African Ballon d’Or 2025: Shock omissions spark controversy
The announcement of the nominees for the 2025 African Ballon d’Or has sparked widespread debate across the continent, with several high-profile names conspicuously missing from the final shortlist.
Among the notable absentees are Bryan Mbeumo, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Amoura, Yoane Wissa, and last year’s winner Ademola Lookman—all excluded despite exceptional seasons at both club and international level.
This year’s final ten contenders feature a mix of familiar faces and rising stars: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco – PSG), Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool), Oussama Lamlioui (Tunisia – Étoile du Sahel), Frank Anguissa (Cameroon – Napoli), Fiston Mayele (DR Congo – Pyramids FC), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea – Borussia Dortmund), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria – Galatasaray), Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal – Everton), Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal – Tottenham), and Denis Bouanga (Gabon – Los Angeles FC).
Each of these players has shone brightly over the past year, most of them celebrating at least one club trophy.
CAF Awards 2025 : Joueur Africain de l’année, entraîneur, gardien, jeune… Les nommés des 7 catégories #football https://t.co/Rk5efjc40v pic.twitter.com/egCGA3V47J
— Afrik-Foot (@afrikfoot) October 22, 2025
Serhou Guirassy, despite missing out on silverware, was rewarded for his extraordinary scoring form in Germany, while Iliman Ndiaye and Denis Bouanga made the cut thanks to their consistency and influence throughout the season.
However, the omission of several standout performers has provoked strong reactions.
Bryan Mbeumo, capped 26 times for Cameroon and with seven international goals, was one of the Premier League’s revelations.
The Brentford forward finished the season as the club’s top scorer with 20 goals in 38 appearances, earning a €75 million move to Manchester United over the summer.
His exclusion has left many observers perplexed.
Omar Marmoush also finds himself snubbed despite an explosive start to the campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he registered 20 goals and 14 assists in just 26 matches.
A high-profile transfer to Manchester City followed, but his form dipped in England—a slump that may have cost him a spot among the elite.
Mohamed Amoura, the Algerian forward enjoying a breakout season with Wolfsburg, delivered a series of breathtaking displays for both club and country.
His pace and precision saw him top the scoring charts in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with ten goals, yet his name was still missing from the final list.
Yoane Wissa, another of Brentford’s stars, also produced an outstanding year, netting 19 goals in 35 league games.
His subsequent move to Newcastle promised to elevate his career further, but injuries and a delayed start to the season seemingly worked against him in the voting process.
Even reigning champion Ademola Lookman could not retain his place among the finalists.
Despite maintaining strong form with 20 goals in 40 appearances, his season lacked the sparkle of the previous year.
A costly missed penalty against Club Bruges in the Champions League—leading to Atalanta’s early exit—may have diminished his chances of back-to-back recognition.
As discussions continue to swirl, the 2025 edition of the African Ballon d’Or stands as one of the most debated in recent years, with fans and pundits alike questioning how some of the continent’s brightest talents found themselves watching from the sidelines.
