CAF, Confederation of African Football Announces Nominees for 2023 Player of the Year

CAF, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the list of nominees for the 2023 African Player of the Year awards. This prestigious event, set to take place on December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, has captured the attention of football enthusiasts across the continent. The list includes 30 top players vying for the title of CAF African Player of the Year, as well as nominees for several other categories, marking a significant expansion of recognition in African football.

An In-Depth Selection Process

The selection process for the awards is meticulous and thorough, with a panel of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends, and selected media representatives from various countries playing an integral role in choosing the nominees. The performance of these nominees between November 2022 and September 2023 served as the primary criteria for their inclusion on this prestigious list.

The extensive list of award categories this year includes the CAF Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year, and Club of the Year, each with ten nominees. Additionally, there is the CAF Young Player of the Year category, specifically for players under the age of 21, designed to celebrate the budding talent in African football.

However, what sets this year’s awards apart is the introduction of the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year category, catering to both male and female goalkeepers. This novel addition recognizes the importance of shot stoppers in the game and expands the network of winners for the annual event.

The Nominees

The star-studded list of nominees for the CAF African Player of the Year category includes some of the continent’s most renowned talents:

• 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)

This extensive list features some of the most exciting talents in African football, and the competition is expected to be fierce as they battle it out for the title of African Player of the Year.

CAF 2023 Player of the Year, Voting Process

The ultimate winners in each category will be determined by a voting panel consisting 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. This comprehensive approach ensures that the most deserving candidates receive recognition for their outstanding contributions to African football.

What’s Next?

As fans eagerly await the upcoming Awards Gala in Marrakech, there is still more excitement to come. CAF will soon announce the nominees for the Women’s categories, adding another layer of anticipation to the event.
As we look forward to December 11, 2023, football enthusiasts across the continent are in for a thrilling celebration of the exceptional players, officials, and administrators who have made their mark in African football during the period under review.

The CAF African Player of the Year awards continue to be a significant moment in the African football calendar, and the 2023 edition promises to be an unforgettable celebration of the talent and passion that drive the sport across the continent.