Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mané and Antoine Semenyo are among the ten nominees for the 2026 African Player of the Year award. The absence of Mohamed Salah and of any Nigerian men’s player has sparked a fierce controversy in Africa.
CAF unveiled on Wednesday 4 November 2026 the list of ten candidates for the African Player of the Year title, according to L’info.re. Defender Achraf Hakimi, the 2025 winner, is joined by Al-Nassr and Senegal forward Sadio Mané, already crowned in 2019 and 2022, as well as forward Antoine Semenyo.
The full list, published by the Ghanaian Times, features Amad Diallo, Yoane Wissa, Antoine Semenyo, Ismael Saibari, Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, Ismaïla Sarr, Pape Gueye, Sadio Mané and Teboho Mokoena. Morocco and Senegal have three representatives each, on a nomination basis built around the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 AFCON.
Hakimi and Mané chase another award
Hakimi is aiming for a second consecutive crown after a successful season with PSG and Morocco, according to L’info.re.
On the Senegalese side, Sadio Mané is hoping for a third award after 2019 and 2022. At the last AFCON, the Al-Nassr forward scored two goals and provided three assists, the same outlet recalls. Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye are also among the ten nominees.
Amad Diallo, Yoane Wissa, Ismael Saibari, Brahim Díaz and Teboho Mokoena complete the list.
Salah and Nigeria, the big absentees
The absence of Mohamed Salah, the Trabzonspor and Egypt forward, has sparked a fierce controversy in Africa, Varzesh3 reports. The Egyptian is not among the ten nominees.
No Nigerian features in the seven men’s categories, according to Nigeria Socccernet. Victor Osimhen, the 2023 winner, and Ademola Lookman, the 2024 winner, are left out, a first in more than a decade for the player title, the Nigerian outlet stresses.
Nigeria finished third at AFCON 2025, but missed the 2026 World Cup, eliminated by DR Congo on penalties (4-3) after a 1-1 draw, according to the New National Star. DR Congo, for their part, played at the World Cup, where Yoane Wissa was involved with Newcastle, mediacongo.net reports.
The date: 7 December in Lagos
The CAF Awards 2026 ceremony is scheduled for Monday 7 December 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria, Flashscore indicates.
The Super Falcons, meanwhile, are nominated in the women’s categories, according to Nigeria Socccernet. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is also among the nominees, after saving a penalty in the CAF Champions League final against AS FAR, won 2-1 on aggregate over the two legs, according to The Nation.