The PSG and Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi, the reigning holder, is among the favourites on the 11-man shortlist published by CAF for African Player of the Year. No Nigerian features in the men’s categories.
CAF has published the 11-man shortlist for African Player of the Year, ahead of the ceremony scheduled for Monday 7 December in Lagos, according to ChampionSport. Reigning holder Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG) is among the favourites, buoyed by his recent silverware with the Paris club.
The list, however, carries other lessons: neither Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) nor Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid) appears, nor does Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle, the Super Eagles or any Nigerian club across the seven men’s categories, according to AfricaSport.
A loaded trophy cabinet
Hakimi won the 2025 and 2026 Champions League with PSG, as well as Ligue 1 and the UEFA Super Cup over the same period, ChampionSport reports. The right-back recorded 49 appearances, 4 goals and 17 assists with the Paris club last season, and now has three Champions Leagues, equalling Samuel Eto’o’s African record.
The Moroccan also captained his national team during the AFCON 2025 title run and the 2026 World Cup quarter-final, the same source states. On an individual level, he finished 13th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, after 6th place in 2025.
Mané and the other challengers
Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr), a former winner, is among the challengers, along with Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast, Manchester United) and Antoine Semenyo (Ghana, Manchester City), according to ChampionSport. Brahim Díaz (Morocco, Real Madrid), Ismaël Saibari (Morocco, Bayern Munich), Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye (Senegal) as well as Yoane Wissa (DR Congo, Newcastle United) complete the list, with Teboho Mokoena (South Africa) the only player plying his trade on the continent.
Senegal therefore has three key men in the running, Ismaïla Sarr, Pape Gueye and Sadio Mané, according to Enquête Plus. Among the ten coaches nominated for Coach of the Year, AfricaSport cites Pape Thiaw (Senegal), Walid Regragui (Morocco) and Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Nigeria left out
CAF unveiled its nominations with no Nigerian in the seven men’s categories, according to AfricaSport. Osimhen and Lookman are absent from the Player of the Year list, as are head coach Éric Chelle, the Super Eagles and Nigerian clubs.
The wider story remains open: the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling on Senegal’s appeal over AFCON 2025 is still awaited, ChampionSport states. The CAF Awards 2026 ceremony will be held on Monday 7 December in Lagos.