Dar es Salaam. Clement Mzize’s triumph in winning the CAF Goal of the Year 2025 is a landmark moment both for the young striker and for Yanga SC as a club.
For Mzize, the award is a strong confirmation of his rising status in African football.
Scoring the continent’s best goal of the year especially in a high-pressure CAF Champions League group-stage match against a heavyweight like TP Mazembe demonstrates not only technical quality, but also maturity, composure and big-stage temperament.
The recognition places him among Africa’s most exciting attacking prospects, raising his visibility to scouts, agents and top clubs across the continent and beyond.
It reinforces the perception that he is not just a promising young forward, but a match-winner capable of producing moments of exceptional quality.
For his personal career trajectory, this accolade strengthens his bargaining power, enhances his market value and positions him as one of the key figures of Yanga’s sporting project.
For Yanga, Mzize’s award carries even deeper significance.
It elevates the club’s profile in African football, showing that their system, coaching and recruitment strategy are producing players capable of outshining the continent’s elite.
Having a player win a CAF continental award boosts the club’s reputation, increases international attention and validates their ambition of establishing themselves among the giants of African football.
The goal itself, scored in a 3–1 victory over TP Mazembe on 4 January 2025 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium symbolises Yanga’s growing confidence on the continental stage.
It highlights the technical evolution and attacking identity that have defined the club’s recent performances in CAF competitions.
Perhaps most significantly for the squad, Mzize’s success injects belief and momentum.
It shows the players that individual brilliance within Yanga’s structure can be recognised at the highest level, inspiring others within the team.
For supporters, it reinforces pride and adds another historic milestone to the club’s modern era.
Mzize being chosen ahead of well-known names such as Abdellah Ouazane, Anas Roshdy, Asharaf Tapsoba, Barbra Banda, Ghizlane Chebbak, Ibrahim Adel and others underlines the magnitude of the achievement.
It confirms that his goal was not only spectacular but also universally acknowledged as the year’s best across Africa.
Beyond Mzize’s remarkable achievement, the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony also showcased the broader landscape of African football excellence across multiple categories.
The men’s and women’s Player of the Year awards went to Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak respectively, underlining Morocco’s continued rise as a powerhouse on the continent.
Yassine Bounou and Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed the Goalkeeper of the Year titles, a testament to consistency and elite performance at both club and international level.
Former Yanga star Fiston Mayele was named Interclub Player of the Year (Men), reaffirming his status as one of Africa’s most efficient forwards.
The young talents Othmane Maamma and Doha El Madani were recognised as the best in their categories, pointing to a strong future pipeline for African football.
Cape Verde’s Bubista took home the Men’s Coach of the Year award, while Morocco U20 and Nigeria were crowned the best national teams in the men’s and women’s divisions.
Pyramids FC were named the Men’s Club of the Year, solidifying their growing dominance in continental competitions.
Additionally, the refereeing categories honoured excellence from across the continent, with Omar Abdulkadir, Liban Abdoulrazack, Shamirah Nabadda and Tabara Mbodji earning recognition for their contributions to fair play and professionalism.
Collectively, these winners highlight a vibrant and competitive football environment in Africa one in which Mzize’s triumph stands proudly alongside other continental milestones.
