The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday unveiled the nominees in the men’s categories for the 2026 CAF Awards, with Moroccan football enjoying a strong presence on the shortlist.
The prestigious ceremony, scheduled to take place on December 7, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, will bring together leading figures in African football to celebrate the outstanding performances that have shaped the continental game this year, CAF said in a statement.
The nominations recognize an eventful year for African football, highlighted by the hosting of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025, a record number of African national teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and CAF’s interclub competitions.
Ten nominees have been shortlisted in each of the seven men’s categories: African Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Men’s National Team of the Year and Club of the Year.
In the African Player of the Year category, the shortlist features several leading figures in continental football, including Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, the reigning African Player of the Year, alongside compatriots Ibrahim Diaz and Ismaël Saibari.
Moroccans Yassine Bounou and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti are also among the contenders for Goalkeeper of the Year, an award recognizing goalkeepers whose performances have stood out in major continental and international competitions.
The Interclub Player of the Year shortlist includes three Moroccan players: Mohamed Rabie Hrimat (AS FAR), Mounir Chouiar (RS Berkane) and Sofiane El Moudane (Olympique de Safi).
The nominations reflect another highly competitive season in African football, with players from some of the continent’s leading clubs recognized for their performances in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
Meanwhile, Moroccan coaches Mohamed Ouahbi and Walid Regragui have been shortlisted for Coach of the Year, following Morocco’s continued success on the international stage, particularly at the World Cup.
Atlas Cubs Abdellah Ouazane and Ayoub Bouaddi are among the nominees for Young Player of the Year, a category highlighting ten promising footballers who have made their mark at the highest level, both for their clubs and national teams.
In the national team category, Morocco’s senior men’s team is among the contenders for Men’s National Team of the Year, having once again flown the continent’s flag high by reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the second consecutive edition.
Morocco also has three representatives in the Club of the Year category: AS FAR, RS Berkane and Olympique de Safi. The category recognizes ten clubs that have distinguished themselves in African football during the period under consideration.
The 2026 CAF Awards will thus celebrate excellence in African football at both club and national team level, recognizing the players, coaches and teams whose achievements have made this year another landmark for the continental game.
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