South Africa’s Tylon Smith, Ronwen Williams and Mamelodi Sundowns have been included in the final three nominees in their respective categories for the 2025 CAF Awards.
Smith has been nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, Williams is up for the Goalkeeper of the Year award, and Sundowns are one of three sides left in contention for the Club of the Year award.
Orlando Pirates’ Mbekezeli Mbokazi was named in the 10-man shortlist for the Young Player of the Year award but was not included in the final three, and South Africa did not make the final cut for the National Team of the Year Award despite making the initial short list.
Smith was a standout performer in Amajita’s U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, which saw the South African side crowned continental champions for the first time in history.
The then Stellenbosch FC defender was named Player of the Tournament at the continental showpiece.
He has since earned a move to Queens Park Rangers in the EFL Championship and has made his debut for the club’s first team.
Up against him for the award are Morocco’s Abdellah Ouazane and Othmane Maamma.
Williams has enjoyed a stellar season for both club and country, earning himself a well deserved nomination for Goalkeeper of the Year.
The 33-year-old captained Bafana Bafana through five of the team’s six FIFA World Cup qualifiers this year, helping South Africa qualify for the tournament for the first time since hosting it in 2010.
For his club, Williams helped Sundowns clinch its eighth consecutive league title and reach the final of the CAF Champions League, where they suffered defeat to Pyramids FC.
His fellow nominees for the award are Yassine Bonou of Morocco and Al Hilal, and Munir Mohamedi of Morocco and RS Berkane.
Mamelodi Sundowns had a successful year under head coach Miguel Cardoso, winning a record eighth straight league title in South Africa and reaching the final of the CAF Champions League.
Masandawana were nominated alongside Pyramids, who defeated them in the Champions League final, and RS Berkane, which won the Confederations Cup and Moroccan league title.
The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 19 November in Rabat, Morocco.
