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Welcome to the African Athlete Of the Month Award Webpage
The African Athlete of the Month Award, powered by Africa Sports Ventures Group (ASVG Media), is a prestigious recognition platform dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary achievements of African athletes across all sports disciplines. Each month, the award shines a spotlight on athletes who have delivered world-class performances, broken records, and inspired millions both on the continent and across the globe. Through this initiative, ASVG not only amplifies African sporting excellence but also empowers athletes by giving fans a direct voice in selecting the winners through open voting channels.
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History of the Awards
The African Athlete of the Month Award was first re-inaugurated in March 2024 under ASVG Media, following its earlier conception as part of the African Sports Monthly brand. The rebooted version quickly gained momentum, establishing itself as one of Africa’s most consistent athlete recognition platforms.
Since its relaunch, the award has honored some of the continent’s brightest stars — from Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, Ghana’s Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Eritrea’s cycling sensation Biniam Girmay, to Kenya’s distance running queens Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet.
Botswana has emerged as one of the dominant nations in the award’s recent history, with multiple wins through sprinter Letsile Tebogo, while football, athletics, and combat sports have consistently been at the forefront of the competition.
The award has since grown into a cornerstone of African sports storytelling, creating excitement every month while laying the groundwork for the upcoming Pan-African Sports Awards — an annual celebration of African sporting excellence.
African Athlete of the Month 2025
Winners
Roll of Honor: African Athlete of the Month Winners 2025
January – Pascal Siakam (Cameroon, Basketball)
The Indiana Pacers star averaged 22.4 PPG, 93 rebounds, and 44 assists in 12 games, earning his 3rd NBA All-Star nod and becoming the Pacers’ Eastern Conference Finals MVP. February – Akwasi Frimpong (Ghana, Skeleton) Frimpong became the first African athlete in history to qualify for five World Championships in sliding sports, breaking barriers for African winter athletes. March – Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast, Football) On his debut for Charlotte FC in MLS, Zaha scored and led his team to victory, making an instant impact in the U.S. soccer scene. April – Akani Simbine (South Africa, Athletics) Simbine became the first sprinter in history to run sub-10s for 11 consecutive years, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record, and dominated Diamond League sprints. May – Pascal Siakam (Cameroon, Basketball) Siakam was voted winner after carrying the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals and being crowned Eastern Conference Finals MVP, despite falling in a hard-fought Game 7. June – Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, Athletics) Kipyegon stunned the world again by breaking her own 1500m record (3:48.68) and narrowly missing the sub-4 mile barrier at Nike’s “Breaking4” in Paris. July – Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, Athletics) Kipyegon repeated as winner, this time part of an all-women lineup of nominees during Pan-African Women’s Month. She extended her dominance with another record-breaking performance. August – Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, Athletics) For the third consecutive month, Kipyegon reigned supreme, running 8:07.04 in the 3000m, narrowly missing the world record but reinforcing her GOAT status in middle-distance running. |
African Athlete of the Month 2024
Winners
Roll of Honor: African Athlete of the Month Winners 2024
Letsile Tebogo (Botswana, Athletics)
The teenage sprint sensation became the first African to win a men’s sprint gold medal at the Paris Olympics, shattering barriers in the 200m. His Diamond League victories later reinforced his rising stardom. April – Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Ghana, Football) The Ghanaian winger was on fire in April, delivering match-winning performances for Leicester City as they secured promotion to the English Premier League. May – Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Football) Lookman stole the headlines in European football after his stunning hat-trick secured Atalanta their first-ever UEFA Europa League title. June – Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya, Athletics) Africa’s fastest man dominated the 100m circuit, clocking world-leading times and taking gold at the African Championships, cementing his sprinting supremacy. July – Biniam Girmay (Eritrea, Cycling) Girmay made history by winning multiple stages at the Tour de France, becoming the first Black African rider to do so, and carried the hopes of an entire continent. August – Letsile Tebogo (Botswana, Athletics) Back again, Tebogo’s consistency and blazing performances in both the 100m and 200m Diamond League events earned him a second win in six months. September – Yayesh Gate Tesfaw (Ethiopia, Para-Athletics) Tesfaw shattered her own world record in the T11 1500m at the Paris Paralympics, cementing her dominance and inspiring millions. October – Ross Branch (Botswana, Motorsport) “The Kalahari Ferrari” roared into history as the first African to win the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, a defining moment for Botswana and African motorsport. November – Barbara Banda (Zambia, Football) Banda powered Orlando Pride to their first-ever NWSL Championship, scoring decisive goals in every knockout game and confirming her as one of Africa’s deadliest forwards. December – Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Football) The Egyptian King claimed the Premier League Golden Boot, Playmaker of the Season, and Player of the Year, breaking records with 47 goal contributions in one season. |
The Archives
The 2013 African Sports Personality of the Year Awards Nominations
It is our tradition at African Sports Monthly to award the best Male and Female African Sports Personalities for their exploits on and off the field of play every year.
African Sports Monthly Magazine initiated the two category Awards for male and female athletes in 2010 at the year of our founding and have continued that tradition ever since save for the 2012 Award which was cancelled due to an internal decision by our organization.
However the African Sports Personality of the Year Awards returns with bang this year (2013) with the re-launch of Africa’s Premier and only comprehensive sports publication; African Sports Monthly Magazine.
Our Award is distinct, unique and discipline neutral meaning that we do not interfere with the continental governing bodies’ awards for their different sports, but rather award ours in a general category which fits perfectly into our domain of yearly coverage of all sports across Africa and internationally.
For the 2013 award we have nominated the following Athletes for our prestigious two category Awards and they are:
2013 Male Sports Personality of the Year Nominees
1. Jacques Kallis – Cricket (Batsman) –South Africa
2. Yayah Toure – Soccer (Midfielder) – Cote D’Ivoire
3. John Mikel Obi – Soccer (Midfielder) - Nigeria
4. Wilson Kipsang – Marathon (World Record Holder) - Kenya
5. Didier Drogba – Soccer (Striker) – Cote D’Ivoire
6. Mohamed Aman – Track & Field (800 Meters) - Ethiopia
7. Hashim Amla – Cricket (Batsman)– South Africa
8. Lucas Sithole – Wheel chair Tennis (Singles Player)– South Africa
2013 Female Sports Personality of the Year Nominees
1. Murielle Ahoure – Track & Field (100 & 200 Meters)– Cote D’Ivoire
2. Blessing Okagbare – Track & Field (100, 200 meters & Long Jump) – Nigeria
3. Kenya Women’s Prisons Volleyball Squad (Team Volleyball) – Volleyball - Kenya
4. Meseret Defar – Track & Field ( 5000 & 10,000 meters)- Ethiopia
5. Tirunesh Dibaba – Track & Field (5000 & 10,000 meters)- Ethiopia
6. Amantle Montsho – Track & Field (400 meters) - Botswana
7. Eunice Sum – Track & Field (800 meters) – Kenya
African Sports Monthly Magazine initiated the two category Awards for male and female athletes in 2010 at the year of our founding and have continued that tradition ever since save for the 2012 Award which was cancelled due to an internal decision by our organization.
However the African Sports Personality of the Year Awards returns with bang this year (2013) with the re-launch of Africa’s Premier and only comprehensive sports publication; African Sports Monthly Magazine.
Our Award is distinct, unique and discipline neutral meaning that we do not interfere with the continental governing bodies’ awards for their different sports, but rather award ours in a general category which fits perfectly into our domain of yearly coverage of all sports across Africa and internationally.
For the 2013 award we have nominated the following Athletes for our prestigious two category Awards and they are:
2013 Male Sports Personality of the Year Nominees
1. Jacques Kallis – Cricket (Batsman) –South Africa
2. Yayah Toure – Soccer (Midfielder) – Cote D’Ivoire
3. John Mikel Obi – Soccer (Midfielder) - Nigeria
4. Wilson Kipsang – Marathon (World Record Holder) - Kenya
5. Didier Drogba – Soccer (Striker) – Cote D’Ivoire
6. Mohamed Aman – Track & Field (800 Meters) - Ethiopia
7. Hashim Amla – Cricket (Batsman)– South Africa
8. Lucas Sithole – Wheel chair Tennis (Singles Player)– South Africa
2013 Female Sports Personality of the Year Nominees
1. Murielle Ahoure – Track & Field (100 & 200 Meters)– Cote D’Ivoire
2. Blessing Okagbare – Track & Field (100, 200 meters & Long Jump) – Nigeria
3. Kenya Women’s Prisons Volleyball Squad (Team Volleyball) – Volleyball - Kenya
4. Meseret Defar – Track & Field ( 5000 & 10,000 meters)- Ethiopia
5. Tirunesh Dibaba – Track & Field (5000 & 10,000 meters)- Ethiopia
6. Amantle Montsho – Track & Field (400 meters) - Botswana
7. Eunice Sum – Track & Field (800 meters) – Kenya
2011 Winners
Our 2011 Male Sports Personality of the Year Award went to Oscar Pistorius of South Africa (A Track and Field Athlete) the first disabled athlete to legally compete against able bodied athlete when he took to the track in Daegu South Korea at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in the 400 meters and the 4 X 400 meters relay. He more than made a statement for himself as he achieved something universally for disabled people that no one had done before and that is have the world see them as regular people.
Our 2011 Female Sports Personality of the Year went to Amantle Montsho of Botswana (A Track and Field Athlete) who won her first ever World Championships Gold medal in the 400 meters. She broke the Botswana national 400 meters record for women several times during the year on the lead up to her dominating performance at the World Championships.
Our 2011 Female Sports Personality of the Year went to Amantle Montsho of Botswana (A Track and Field Athlete) who won her first ever World Championships Gold medal in the 400 meters. She broke the Botswana national 400 meters record for women several times during the year on the lead up to her dominating performance at the World Championships.
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2010 Winners
In our Inaugural Year (2010) we awarded the Tittle of Male African Sports Personality of the Year to Chad Le Clos of South Africa (A Swimmer) for his Outstanding and breakthrough performance in the Pool at the Youth Summer Olympic Games in Singapore and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India.
Our Female Sports Personality for the year for 2010 went to Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria (A Track and Field Athlete) who was phenomenal in her breakthrough performance in the 100 meters and the Long Jump as well as earning her the honors of the Female Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Country Association
Our Female Sports Personality for the year for 2010 went to Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria (A Track and Field Athlete) who was phenomenal in her breakthrough performance in the 100 meters and the Long Jump as well as earning her the honors of the Female Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Country Association