CAF names finalists as Edouard Mendy and Marco Diouf miss out on Goalkeeper award

CAF has announced the three finalists for the 2025 African Goalkeeper of the Year award, with Edouard Mendy and Marco Diouf both excluded from the final shortlist despite being part of the initial nominations.

The two Senegal internationals were among ten goalkeepers considered for the accolade, but neither will contend for the trophy after the Confederation of African Football confirmed its final trio on Sunday.

The governing body revealed that the shortlist includes two Moroccan contenders, continuing a dominant presence seen across several award categories this year.

Al-Hilal’s Yassine Bounou, who “didn’t have a better season in Saudi Arabia than Edouard Mendy,” according to the report, has made the cut alongside compatriot Munir Mohamedi of RS Berkane.

Joining them is South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper who lifted the award in the previous edition.

His inclusion reflects another strong year at club level, though “it’s unlikely Williams will repeat the feat on Moroccan soil,” the story notes.

Mendy, widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading goalkeepers in recent years, had entered the race with expectations following high-level performances at club and international level.

Diouf, also seen as a rising figure for Senegal, had similarly been viewed as a potential contender.

Their exclusion narrows the competition to a Morocco-South Africa battle, with Bounou and Mohamedi positioned as favourites in front of a home crowd.

CAF will unveil the winner at its awards ceremony, where Morocco’s presence across multiple categories is expected to remain a central narrative.