The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the nominees for the 2026 Men’s Player of the Year award, with Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman conspicuously absent from the 10-man shortlist.
The nominations, unveiled on Wednesday, November 4, have generated attention across the African football community, particularly in Nigeria, where expectations were high that the country’s leading international stars would feature among the contenders.
Osimhen, who won the prestigious award in 2023, and Atalanta forward Lookman were both overlooked despite their contributions to Nigerian football during the year under review.
The Super Eagles duo played important roles in Nigeria’s campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the country finished third.
Lookman enjoyed an impressive tournament, recording three goals and four assists in six appearances to earn a place in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.
Osimhen also made a significant contribution, finishing as Nigeria’s leading goalscorer at the competition with four goals and two assists.
The Galatasaray striker has also enjoyed another productive campaign in Turkey, helping the club secure a second successive league title while continuing his impressive goalscoring record.
However, their performances were insufficient to secure places on this year’s final shortlist.
Hakimi, Mané Headline 2026 CAF Player of the Year Race
Defending champion Achraf Hakimi of Morocco headlines the nominations as he seeks to retain the award following another impressive year with Paris Saint-Germain and the Atlas Lions.
Hakimi faces competition from nine other African stars, including Senegalese forward Sadio Mané, who previously won the award, and his compatriots Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye.
Morocco also has two other representatives, Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid and Ismael Saibari, following their impressive performances at club and international levels.
Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo, who plays for Manchester City, has also earned recognition after establishing himself as one of the continent’s outstanding attacking talents.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo, DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa and South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena complete the list.
Full List of 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year Nominees
Amad Diallo – Côte d’Ivoire / Manchester United
Yoane Wissa – DR Congo / Newcastle United
Antoine Semenyo – Ghana / Manchester City
Ismael Saibari – Morocco / Bayern Munich
Achraf Hakimi – Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain
Brahim Diaz – Morocco / Real Madrid
Ismaila Sarr – Senegal / Crystal Palace
Pape Gueye – Senegal / Villarreal
Sadio Mané – Senegal / Al-Nassr
Teboho Mokoena – South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns
Morocco and Senegal Dominate the Shortlist
The nominations highlight the growing influence of Morocco and Senegal in African football, with both countries providing three players each.
Morocco’s representation is led by Hakimi, who will be hoping to become a consecutive winner, alongside Diaz and Saibari.
Senegal’s trio of Mané, Sarr and Gueye also reflects the country’s continued strength on the continental stage.
Meanwhile, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo and South Africa have one representative each.
A Disappointing Development for Nigerian Football
The absence of Nigerian players from the Men’s Player of the Year shortlist represents a significant disappointment for the country’s football supporters.
Osimhen’s omission is particularly noteworthy considering his previous success in the competition and his continued importance to both Galatasaray and the Super Eagles.
Lookman’s absence is equally surprising given his impressive performances at the 2025 AFCON and his contributions at club level.
Nevertheless, the omissions do not mean Nigeria will be completely unrepresented at the 2026 CAF Awards, as Nigerian footballers have secured nominations in other categories.
Lagos to Host 2026 CAF Awards
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on Monday, December 7.
The annual event will celebrate outstanding achievements in African football across club and international competitions.
Other categories include Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Men’s Interclub Player of the Year, Men’s Coach of the Year, Men’s Young Player of the Year, Men’s National Team of the Year and Men’s Club of the Year.
Attention will now turn to the final selection as Africa’s leading football stars compete for one of the continent’s most prestigious individual honours.
