The stage is set for a night of football glory as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the nominees for the men’s categories in the prestigious #CAFAwards24.
The awards ceremony, which celebrates the pinnacle of African football talent, is set for December 16, in the vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco.
With a range of categories, CAF will honor players, coaches, teams, and clubs who have achieved remarkable success between January and October 2024.
One of the main attractions of the night is the CAF African Player of the Year Award, for which ten standout players have been nominated.
Among the leading names are Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, who was a finalist last year, and Amine Gouiri, representing Algeria and Rennes.
Other heavyweights include Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen, Simon Adingra of Brighton & Hove Albion, and Serhou Guirassy, who has been a goal machine for Borussia Dortmund.
This year’s shortlist also includes Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) and William Troost-Ekong (Al Kholood), alongside South Africa’s Ronwen Williams from Mamelodi Sundowns, whose inclusion in three categories speaks volumes about his stellar year.
Ronwen Williams, one of South Africa’s most celebrated athletes, has captured the attention of the continent, being nominated for the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year, CAF Interclub Player of the Year, and the coveted CAF African Player of the Year.
Williams, a cornerstone of Mamelodi Sundowns, is the only player with this triple recognition, showcasing his versatility and excellence across domestic and international competitions.
The CAF Goalkeeper of the Year category, which has returned to the Awards, features a strong field of contenders alongside Williams, including Manchester United’s Andre Onana (Cameroon), Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo / Rodez AF), and Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly).
Their contributions between the posts have been instrumental in both club and national team successes, adding an exciting dimension to this year’s awards.
The CAF Interclub Player of the Year is another thrilling category with nominees excelling in African club football. Among the nominees are Oussama Benbot (Algeria / USM Alger), Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso / RS Berkane), and Zamalek’s Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’.
These players have showcased resilience and skill in club competitions, helping elevate African clubs on the continental stage. Shobeir and Williams also feature in this category, further testament to their influence on the pitch.
Young Talent Takes Center Stage
CAF is committed to nurturing the continent’s young stars, and this year’s CAF Young Player of the Year category highlights rising stars under the age of 21. This includes players like Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion, Abdul Aziz Issah from Dreams FC, and Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City. These young talents have already made a significant impact on the field, showing immense potential for their respective clubs and national teams.
The Architects of Success: Coach of the Year
The CAF Coach of the Year category, highlighting the best football minds, includes coaches who have made significant strides at the international and club level. Among the nominees are Pedro Goncalves (Angola), Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire), and Hugo Broos (South Africa), each credited for guiding their teams through challenging competitions and achieving remarkable success. Other notable nominees include Sebastien Desabre of DR Congo and Marcel Koller of Al Ahly, who have both brought strategy and resilience to the game.
Recognizing African Clubs and National Teams
The CAF Club of the Year category sees top-performing clubs like Petro Atletico (Angola), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), and Al Ahly (Egypt) in contention. Their performances across CAF’s Interclub competitions have set new standards in African football. The category also features notable mentions for clubs from Tanzania, with both Simba and Young Africans, and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, reflecting a robust presence in African club football.
Meanwhile, the CAF National Team of the Year category celebrates countries that have made strides in international competitions, with Burkina Faso, Morocco, South Africa, and Uganda leading the nominees. Each of these teams has shown growth and resilience in regional tournaments, making their mark on the African football stage.
An Evening of Decision by a Diverse Panel
The winners of each category will be chosen through votes from an esteemed panel comprising CAF Technical Committee members, media professionals, and Head Coaches and Captains of Member Associations. Clubs participating in Interclub group stage competitions will also have a say, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive selection process.
As the countdown to the CAFAwards24 begins, football fans across Africa eagerly await the unveiling of the winners, recognizing the talent and passion that African players, coaches, and clubs bring to the game. This year’s event promises to be an inspiring night, celebrating the diversity, skill, and spirit that define African football.
With the list of nominees for the women’s categories to be announced soon, the stage is set for an unforgettable celebration of African football in Marrakech this December.
Full List of Nominees (in alphabetical order by Member Association):
Player of the Year (Men)
- Amine Gouiri (Algeria / Rennes)
- Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso / Bayer Leverkusen)
- Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo / Olympique Marseille)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco / Al Ain)
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)
- William Troost Ekong (Nigeria / Al Kholood)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)
- Oussama Benbot (Algeria / USM Alger)
- Andre Onana (Cameroon / Manchester United)
- Yahia Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire / Angers SCO)
- Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo / Rodez AF)
- Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly)
- Djigui Diarra (Mali / Young Africans)
- Munir El Kajoui (Morocco / RS Berkane)
- Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria / Chippa United)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
- Oussama Benbot (Algeria / USM Alger)
- Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso / RS Berkane)
- Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’ (Egypt / Zamalek)
- Hussein El Shahat (Egypt / Al Ahly)
- Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly)
- Abdul Aziz Issah (Ghana / Dreams FC)
- John Antwi (Ghana / Dreams FC)
- Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)
- Yassine Merriah (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Coach of the Year (Men)
- Pedro Goncalves (Angola)
- Brahima Traore (Burkina Faso)
- Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
- Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo)
- Jose Gomes (Zamalek)
- Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
- Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)
- Hugo Broos (South Africa)
- Florent Ibenge (Al Hilal)
- Kwesi Appiah (Sudan)
Young Player of the Year (Men)
- Carlos Baleba (Cameroon / Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire / Salzburg)
- Oumar Diakite (Cote d’Ivoire / Reims)
- Yankuba Minteh (Gambia / Brighton & Hove Albion)
- Abdul Aziz Issah (Ghana / Dreams FC / Barcelona)
- Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco / Leicester City)
- Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco / AS Monaco)
- El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal / Slavia Prague)
- Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)
- Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)
Club of the Year (Men)
- Petro Atletico (Angola)
- TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Zamalek (Egypt)
- Dreams FC (Ghana)
- RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- Simba (Tanzania)
- Young Africans (Tanzania)
- Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
National Team of the Year (Men)
- Angola
- Burkina Faso
- Cote d’Ivoire
- DR Congo
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Uganda
