The release of the full voting results for the 2025 CAF Awards has sparked controversy in Nigeria, with several observers questioning the credibility and fairness of the process after it emerged that key Nigerian representatives voted against their own leading performers.

Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi claimed the African Footballer of the Year award, edging out Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.

In the results released by CAF on Monday, Hakimi amassed 533 points, nearly the combined total of his closest rivals. Salah finished second with 317 points, while Osimhen, despite a stellar season with Galatasaray, winning the Turkish double and finishing as top scorer, was placed third with 240 points.

While Hakimi’s triumph was widely celebrated, attention in Nigeria on Tuesday quickly turned to the voting patterns of the country’s delegates.

Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi, serving as a CAF Technical Expert, drew particular criticism for ranking Osimhen fifth in the African Player of the Year category, awarding him only a single point.

“Amokachi voted Osimhen fifth? Wt* mehn,” reacted social media user Mastermind (@dami_mastermind).

By contrast, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and captain William Troost-Ekong both voted Osimhen first, placing Hakimi second.

The controversy extended beyond the men’s awards. In the Women’s Player of the Year category, Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak emerged victorious, while Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo finished second and fourth.

While Nigerian coach Justine Madugu voted Okoronkwo and Ajibade first and second, Nigerian media representative Samuel Ahmadu ranked Okoronkwo third and Ajibade fifth, prompting backlash.

“Ahmadu’s voting is not only spiteful. It is condescending,” said Bimbola Royale (@bimbolaroyale).

Ahmadu’s ballots also appeared to undermine other Nigerian stars. Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who retained her CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award, was ranked fifth on his ballot despite being rated number one by her coach and teammates.

Similarly, Flamingos captain Shakirat Moshood was placed fifth in the Women’s Young Player category by Ahmadu.

In the Women’s National Team of the Year voting, Ahmadu also ranked Tanzania first and Nigeria fifth, even though the Super Falcons won the award with 106 points, narrowly ahead of Morocco.

Critics have highlighted wider concerns over CAF’s voting mechanism.

“I see that half of the 54 associations coaches, captains and media didn’t vote, which undermines the credibility of the awards. Voting should be mandatory, try to respect your own rules CAF,” Muri (@CarBarZin) observed.

Gboyega Olutade (@G_coachtee) added, “I have always had my reservations about the voting system… the flaws outweigh the genuineness.”

Some observers suggested that misinterpretation of the voting system could explain anomalies.

Sports journalist and author, Solace Chukwu (@TheOddSolace) noted, “It seems implausible that he [Ahmadu] has a bone to pick with the entire Super Falcons… it is likelier that he misread the instructions and cast his ballot in the reverse order to what he actually intended.”

Others, however, were less forgiving. “These decisions and votes clearly stem from deep-seated issues with either the NFF, the women national team or some players in the Super Falcons. Yet, this is distasteful,” tweeted Your Favourite International Man IIPS (@iamajideabayomi).

The CAF Awards, held on November 19 in Rabat, Morocco, brought together players, coaches and officials from across Africa.

Voting involved national team coaches and captains from all 54 CAF member associations, CAF Technical Study Group members, and media representatives.

Fan engagement was limited to the Goal of the Year category. CAF has confirmed that votes were based on performances recorded between January 6 and October 15, 2025.

As social media debates intensify in Nigeria, questions persist over whether the country’s own representatives acted objectively, and whether future voting should be more strictly monitored to ensure that merit, rather than sentiment or misunderstanding, determines Africa’s top football honours.