The CAF African Player of the Year award isn't just about who's popular, it's a process built to reflect expertise and consistent performance. Softfootball understands that for the 2025 edition, the voting followed the usual CAF methodology, which is designed to put professional judgement first.
National team captains and coaches, club captains, media representatives from across Africa, and members of CAF's Technical and Development Committee all had a say. Fans don't vote, so there's no risk of the award turning into a popularity contest.
Each voter picks their top three players, with points assigned as 5 for first place, 3 for second, and 1 for third. The player with the most total points wins. Simple in theory, but in practice it ensures the winner has broad respect from the people who actually know football, the experts who watch, analyse, and experience it day in and day out.