Inaki Williams, Abdul Mumin Nominated for La Liga MVP Award

Ghanaian football stars Inaki Williams and Abdul Mumin have been nominated for the La Liga African Player MVP award for the 2024/25 season.

Williams is aiming to defend his title after winning the award last season, while Mumin has earned recognition despite missing part of the season due to a knee injury.

The La Liga African Player MVP award honors the best African player in the league for the season. This year, 20 players from 13 African countries received nominations. The winner will be decided by a combined vote from fans in Sub-Saharan Africa and a panel of 25 top African sports journalists.

Inaki Williams has played an outstanding season with Athletic Bilbao. So far, he has scored six goals and made six assists in La Liga. He is the second-highest scorer on his team, behind Unai Sancet, who has 15 goals. Williams also ranks third in the league for assists, behind Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. His strong performances have helped Bilbao secure fourth place with 64 points, giving them a solid chance to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Williams also played a key role in Bilbao’s Europa League run, scoring five goals and providing one assist before the team was knocked out by Manchester United in the semifinals. His skills and experience make him a key player for Bilbao’s push for Europe’s top tournament.

Abdul Mumin, who plays as a defender for Rayo Vallecano, has also impressed this season. Before his injury, he played 24 league games, scored two goals, and provided one assist. Mumin helped the team keep six clean sheets and was strong in defense, making 120 clearances, 37 tackles, and 23 interceptions. He also won 83 of 149 ground duels and did not concede any penalties.

Since joining Rayo Vallecano in 2022, Mumin has become a vital part of their defense. His physical strength, good game reading, and aerial ability have earned him praise. He won the Rayo Player of the Month award and scored the La Liga Goal of the Month in September with a powerful strike against Osasuna. Mumin’s performances have helped Rayo Vallecano aim for a return to European football, which they have not reached since the 2000/2001 season.

The competition for the MVP award is tough. Other top African players nominated include Reinildo Mandava from Mozambique (Atlético Madrid), Flavien Enzo Boyomo from Cameroon (Osasuna), and Villarreal’s Pape Gueye (Senegal), Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast), and Logan Costa (Cape Verde). These players have all had strong seasons and helped their teams compete for European spots.

Voting for the award ended on May 14,2025 and the winner will be announced on Africa Day, May 25, during the final matchday of the La Liga season.