Ghanaian duo Inaki Williams and Abdul Mumin have been nominated for the 2024/25 Sporty LaLiga African MVP award, which honours the best African player in Spain’s top flight over the season.
The prestigious award, now in its fourth edition, features 20 nominees from 13 African countries. The winner will be determined through a combined voting process involving fans from Sub-Saharan Africa and a panel of 25 leading African sports journalists.
Inaki Williams, last season’s winner, is aiming to retain his crown following another standout campaign with Athletic Bilbao. The Ghana international has contributed six goals and six assists in La Liga, ranking second among Bilbao’s top scorers behind Unai Sancet and third in assists across the league—trailing only Lamine Yamal (12) and Raphinha (9).
His performances have played a key role in Athletic Club’s push for a Champions League return, with the Basque side currently fourth on the table with 64 points and just three games remaining. The club is also still in the running for European glory after reaching the Europa League semifinals, with Williams contributing five goals and one assist in the competition.
Joining him on the list is fellow Ghanaian Abdul Mumin, whose strong performances for Rayo Vallecano earned him a place among the elite, despite his season being cut short by a knee injury. The centre-back impressed in 24 La Liga matches, scoring two goals, providing one assist, and helping Rayo secure six clean sheets.
Mumin’s defensive stats highlight his influence—120 clearances, 37 tackles, 23 interceptions, and an 83/149 success rate in ground duels—underscoring his importance to Rayo’s backline. He also picked up the Rayo Player of the Month award and won La Liga’s Goal of the Month in September for his strike against Osasuna.
Since joining Rayo in 2022 from Vitória Guimarães, the 24-year-old has become a pillar of the team’s defense, contributing to their campaign to secure European football for the first time since the 2000/01 season.
Williams and Mumin face stiff competition from several top African talents, including Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique), who is part of La Liga’s second-meanest defense; Cameroon’s Flavien Enzo Boyomo of Osasuna, who has logged the most minutes among African players this season; and Villarreal’s trio of Pape Gueye (Senegal), Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast), and Logan Costa (Cape Verde), who are leading the club’s charge for a European spot.
Voting for the award is open until May 14, and the winner will be announced on May 25—Africa Day—coinciding with La Liga’s final matchday. Williams will be hoping to make history as a back-to-back winner, while Mumin aims to become the second Ghanaian to win the honour.
Full List of Nominees:
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Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club) – Ghana
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Reinildo Mandava (Atlético de Madrid) – Mozambique
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Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis) – DR Congo
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Ilaix Moriba (RC Celta) – Guinea
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Moussa Diarra (Deportivo Alavés) – Mali
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Djené Dakonam (Getafe CF) – Togo
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Christantus Uche (Getafe CF) – Nigeria
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Yvan Neyou (CD Leganés) – Cameroon
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Seydouba Cisse (CD Leganés) – Guinea
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Omar Mascarell (RCD Mallorca) – Equatorial Guinea
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Flavien Enzo Boyomo (CA Osasuna) – Cameroon
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Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano) – Ghana
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Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano) – Senegal
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Randy Nteka (Rayo Vallecano) – Angola
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Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC) – Nigeria
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Umar Sadiq (Valencia CF) – Nigeria
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Pape Gueye (Villarreal CF) – Senegal
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Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal CF) – Ivory Coast
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Logan Costa (Villarreal CF) – Cape Verde
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Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis) – Senegal
