The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the list of nominees for the men’s categories for the highly anticipated CAF Awards 2023.
As preparations gather momentum for the Awards Gala set to take place on December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, football enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting to see who will walk away with the prestigious titles.
A panel comprised of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends, and selected media representatives from various countries diligently worked together to compile the preliminary list of nominees.
The performance of these players between November 2022 and September 2023 served as the period under consideration.
Thirty players secured their place among the elite as they made the cut for the coveted CAF African Player of the Year award. With an impressive display of talent and skill, each nominee strives to claim the ultimate prize.
Additionally, 20 exceptional players have been nominated for the equally prestigious CAF Interclub Player of the Year category.
The Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year categories each have ten commendable nominees vying for recognition.
Furthermore, CAF Young Player of the Year will showcase the abilities of youngsters under the age of 21, with their outstanding performances earning them a prestigious nomination.
In an exciting development, CAF has introduced the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year category for both men and women.
This inclusion seeks to celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional performances of the shot-stoppers. Ten talented players have been nominated for this groundbreaking award, further expanding the network of winners for this annual event.
The winners in each category will be determined through a voting panel composed of the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head Coaches and captains of Member Associations, and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.
While the nominees for the Women’s categories are yet to be announced, Senegal forward Sadio Mane was crowned CAF African Player of the Year, and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala claimed the CAF African Women’s Player of the Year title for a record fifth time during the previous Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
As the anticipation builds, African football enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of the CAF Awards 2023, wondering who will be crowned Africa’s best in their respective categories.
Full List of Nominees (in alphabetic order by Member Association):
Player of the Year (Men)
- Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)
- Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)
- Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)
- Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)
- Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)
- Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)
- Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)
- Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)
- Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
- Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
- Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)
- Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)
- Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)
- Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)
- Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)
- Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)
- Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
- Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)
- Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)
- Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)
- Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)
- Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)
- Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)
- Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Yassine Bounou (Morocco & Al Hilal)
- Andre Onana (Cameroon and Manchester United)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Al Ahli)
- Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
- Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
- Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
- Pape Mamadou Sy (Senegal and Generation Foot)
- Landing Badji (Senegal and AS Pikine)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
- Aymen Mahious (Algeria and USM Alger/Yverdon-Sport)
- Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
- Zineddine Belaid (Algeria and USM Alger)
- Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Young Africans/Pyramids)
- Makabi Lilepo (DR Congo and Al Hilal/Valenciennes)
- Hussein El Shahat (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
- Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mostafa Fathi (Egypt and Pyramids)
- Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
- Yahia Attiyat Allah (Morocco and Wydad Club Athletic)
- Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
- Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
- Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
- Ranga Chivaviro (South Africa and Marumo Gallants/Kaizer Chiefs)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Ali Maaloul (Tunisia and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Esperance Sportive de Tunis /Ferencvaros)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
- Aymen Mahious (Algeria and USM Alger/Yverdon-Sport)
- Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
- Zineddine Belaid (Algeria and USM Alger)
- Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Young Africans/Pyramids)
- Makabi Lilepo (DR Congo and Al Hilal/Valenciennes)
- Hussein El Shahat (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
- Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
- Mostafa Fathi (Egypt and Pyramids)
- Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
- Yahia Attiyat Allah (Morocco and Wydad Club Athletic)
- Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
- Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
- Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
- Ranga Chivaviro (South Africa and Marumo Gallants/Kaizer Chiefs)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Ali Maaloul (Tunisia and Al Ahly)
- Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Esperance Sportive de Tunis /Ferencvaros)
Club of the Year (Men)
- CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
- USM Alger (Algeria)
- ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Raja Club Athletic (Morocco)
- Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
- Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
National Team of the Year (Men)
- Cape Verde
- The Gambia
- Guinea Bissau
- Equatorial Guinea
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Senegal
- Tanzania
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