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Football Insider

The Controversy Surrounding Serhou Guirassy's Exclusion from African Footballer of the Year Podium

Karamba Guirassy, brother and agent of Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, has vehemently criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Guinean international was excluded from the 2025 African Footballer of the Year podium. Guirassy's exceptional goal-scoring record and impressive achievements have sparked a heated debate.

The Controversy Surrounding Serhou Guirassy's Exclusion from African Footballer of the Year Podium

Karamba Guirassy, brother and agent of Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, has vehemently criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Guinean international was excluded from the 2025 African Footballer of the Year podium. Guirassy's impressive goal-scoring record across all competitions, including as the joint-top scorer in the Champions League, was highlighted as evidence of the "disgraceful" decision.Guirassy's brother and agent, Karamba, has launched a scathing attack on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following the exclusion of the Borussia Dortmund striker from the final three nominees for the 2025 African Footballer of the Year award. The CAF announced its three finalists on Sunday as Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray).In a message published on Instagram, Karamba did not mince words, describing the decision as a "putain de honte," which translates to "A f*****g disgrace." He immediately followed this by highlighting his brother's exceptional achievements over the past year, arguing that these accomplishments warranted a spot on the podium.Karamba meticulously listed his brother's impressive statistics and accolades from 2025 to underscore the perceived injustice of his exclusion. Guirassy finished as the joint top scorer in the Champions League with 13 goals, a remarkable feat against Europe's elite. He also ended the Bundesliga campaign as its second-highest goalscorer.Furthermore, the Guinean international was the top scorer at the FIFA Club World Cup and was recognised as the top African goalscorer of 2025 across all competitions. His consistent form also earned him a nomination for FIFA's Best Striker award and a respectable 21st-place ranking in the Ballon d’Or.Since joining Borussia Dortmund from Stuttgart in the summer of 2024 for €18 million (£15m/$19m), Guirassy has enjoyed a sensational debut campaign. He has registered an astonishing 38 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions during this period, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards. This season, he has continued his goal-scoring form with seven goals in 15 appearances in all competitions, including five goals in nine Bundesliga matches, and one goal and three assists in four Champions League appearances.Guirassy's prolific goal-scoring has been crucial for Borussia Dortmund, who secured a UEFA Champions League berth last season under coach Niko Kovac. Kovac has transformed BVB into a notoriously difficult team to break down, and Guirassy has been expected to fire them forward.At the start of this season, Dortmund's attack was flowing, with 12 goals in their first six Bundesliga games leading to an unbeaten start (W4, D2). While their attack has "fairly dried up since," with four goals in as many games, Kovac has publicly backed Guirassy, despite a recent run of one goal in his last six games."We’re missing his goals at the moment, but he’ll get back to that,” Kovac told Kicker. “I’m glad to have him and I’ll stick with him. He’s not just a great striker, but above all, a wonderful person.”Dortmund's defence, however, remains almost impenetrable, with six clean sheets from their opening ten Bundesliga games. They currently sit seven points behind Bayern Munich in the league and have lost only once in both the DFB Cup and the Champions League, positioning them well to compete on multiple fronts.Guirassy's exceptional form has attracted significant transfer interest, particularly from the Premier League. According to TEAMtalk, the prolific 29-year-old is "preparing to explore his options ahead of the January transfer window," with a "modest release clause" in his contract reportedly attracting European giants.Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United are among the clubs reportedly "being contacted about a potential deal." Liverpool are exploring depth behind Alexander Isak, while Arsenal seek a clinical striker to compete with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Manchester City desire rotational depth behind Erling Haaland, and Chelsea are looking to solve their long-standing centre-forward problem. Manchester United's interest, however, is complicated by the need to ensure Benjamin Sesko's development is not hindered.Adding further intrigue, transfer expert Nicolo Schira reports that a Saudi Arabian club is "ready" to present Guirassy with a lucrative three-year contract worth €20 million per season, totalling a staggering €60 million package. However, Guirassy is believed to prefer "still competing in Europe’s top leagues."Guirassy's immediate future remains at Borussia Dortmund, where he is under contract until 2028. However, the controversy surrounding the African Footballer of the Year award, coupled with persistent transfer speculation and a release clause, suggests that the January transfer window could be pivotal.Guirassy will aim to rediscover his prolific early-season form to help Dortmund compete for honours in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup, and Champions League. His performances in the coming weeks will likely dictate the intensity of transfer interest from top European clubs and potentially influence his decision regarding a long-term move, especially given the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. The outcome of these discussions will undoubtedly be closely watched as one of Europe's most in-form strikers considers his next career steps.

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A Brother's Outrage

Karamba Guirassy did not hold back in expressing his discontent with the CAF's decision to omit his brother, Serhou Guirassy, from the final nominees for the African Footballer of the Year award. Despite Serhou's remarkable goal-scoring feats and impressive statistics, he failed to secure a spot among the top three finalists, leading to accusations of injustice and a lack of recognition for his contributions.

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Impressive Achievements

In 2025, Serhou Guirassy showcased his talent on the pitch by finishing as the joint top scorer in the Champions League with 13 goals, a remarkable feat that underlined his prowess in front of goal. Additionally, he emerged as the second-highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga, further solidifying his reputation as one of Europe's most prolific forwards.

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Transfer Speculation and Interest

Despite the controversy surrounding the African Footballer of the Year award, Serhou Guirassy's exceptional form has attracted significant interest from top clubs, with reports suggesting that European giants and a Saudi Arabian club are vying for his signature. The upcoming January transfer window could prove pivotal in determining the striker's future, as he weighs his options and evaluates potential moves to clubs in Europe's top leagues or a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.

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The Path Ahead

As Serhou Guirassy continues to shine on the pitch for Borussia Dortmund, his performances in the coming weeks will undoubtedly impact the intensity of transfer interest from leading European clubs. With his contract running until 2028 and a release clause potentially in play, Guirassy faces crucial decisions regarding his career trajectory and aspirations for honours in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup, and Champions League.

Published on Nov 17, 2025