Villarreal and Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has officially confirmed his candidacy for the African Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony set for 7 December in Lagos and stiff competition ahead, including from Achraf Hakimi.
In an interview given to Canal+ Sport Afrique on the programme “Talents d’Afrique”, broadcast on Monday 26 October 2026, the Villarreal and Senegal midfielder officially confirmed his candidacy for the African Ballon d’Or. “It’s true that it’s not up to me to vote, but at the start of the season I write down all my targets for goals, assists, matches played, and collective and individual trophies. And it’s true that the Ballon d’Or is one of my targets. Now we’ll wait for the votes and hope for good news,” he said, in comments reported by toutinfo.net.
At 27, the player has 48 caps and 7 goals for Senegal. Last season he was named the best African player in the Spanish league. The CAF Awards 2026 ceremony will be held on Monday 7 December 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria.
A goal in the final at the heart of a dispute
Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in the AFCON 2025 final, before the CAF Appeal Jury overturned the result in favour of Morocco, according to Le Quotidien and toutinfo.net. The verdict of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), expected at the end of November, could influence the jury, according to Le Quotidien.
Despite this context, the player says he received congratulations from Real Madrid players after the final, according to AllAfrica.
Villarreal, where he says he has rediscovered his level
Having arrived at Villarreal three years ago, Pape Gueye says he feels good at the club, where he enjoys the confidence of its directors. “I’ve found my best level again here,” he told AllAfrica.
Approached by other teams during the last summer transfer window, he chose to continue his adventure with the Spanish club, according to AllAfrica.
Stiff competition with Hakimi
Competition looks set to be stiff against Achraf Hakimi, twice a Champions League winner with PSG, according to toutinfo.net. Nicolas Pépé, the Ivorian player, has given his support to Pape Gueye: “If he wins it (the African Ballon d’Or, Ed.), it’s totally deserved,” he told Dazn, as relayed by Le Quotidien.
Pape Gueye now awaits the votes: the CAF Awards 2026 ceremony will be held on Monday 7 December in Lagos, Nigeria.