Lagos Gala Set as Hakimi and Mané Top African Player Shortlist
The Confederation of African Football has released the shortlist for the CAF Awards 2026 Men’s Player of the Year, featuring Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mané, Antoine Semenyo, and Brahim Díaz. The winner will be officially crowned during the annual awards ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 7, 2026.
Continental Recognition Focuses on Lagos Gala December 7
The nominations evaluate player performances across international fixtures, the Africa Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup, and CAF Interclub competitions including the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. Shortlisted candidates represent high-performing African players competing across domestic leagues and international tournaments over the past year.
Achraf Hakimi
playerThe announcement establishes the final candidate pool ahead of the end-of-year administrative calendar. Individual honors will be awarded following votes from continental panel members prior to the gala next month.
This shortlist was confirmed by the Confederation of African Football.
