Who is Africa’s best football player in 2026?

Africa’s best football player in 2026 is garnering attention ahead of the Ballon d’Or awards and the CAF Awards set to be held in Lagos next December.

Achraf Hakimi is the strongest starting point in the debate over Africa’s best football player in 2026, but Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have compelling cases of their own.

The Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender won the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year award, succeeding Lookman, who claimed the honour in 2024, and Osimhen, the 2023 winner.

However, the CAF award recognises performances over a defined period, while deciding who is Africa’s best football player in 2026 requires a broader assessment of consistency, individual quality, club achievements and impact with the National team.

Why is Achraf Hakimi Africa’s best football player?

Hakimi’s case rests on his ability to influence matches from right-back while performing for the best football club in Europe.

The Moroccan has developed into a modern attacking full-back, combining speed, intelligent movement and delivery in the final third with the defensive responsibilities of his position. His importance to PSG and Morocco makes him more than a defender who occasionally contributes goals and assists.

His 2025 CAF award also reflects how far he’s come in African football. He was crowned Africa’s best football player ahead of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen, who completed the final three nominees.

Hakimi is a logical choice for Africa’s best football player, especially when assessing his overall influence rather than comparing goals alone, since he’s a full-back whose first duty is to keep opponents away from his goal.

With CAF awarding the AFCON 2025 title to Morocco, the former Borussia Dortmund defender is the lead favourite to be Africa’s best football player in 2026.

In 39 games for Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025/2026 season, Achraf Hakimi scored five goals and provided 10 assists, winning the UEFA Champions League for the second season running, alongside the French Ligue 1 title.

Has Victor Osimhen won African best football player?

Victor Osimhen won the CAF African Men’s Player of the Year award in 2023 after an outstanding campaign with Napoli and Nigeria.

The striker played a major role in Napoli’s first Serie A title in more than three decades, scoring 26 league goals in the 2022/23 season. He also helped Nigeria qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as the leading scorer in the qualifying campaign with 10 goals in six games.

Osimhen remains a serious contender in any discussion of Africa’s finest footballers because of his movement, pressing, aerial ability and brilliant finishing. His goalscoring record at Galatasaray has reinforced his reputation as one of the continent’s best players.

Is Ademola Lookman Africa’s best football player?

Lookman has proved that he can win the continent’s biggest individual men’s award. He was named CAF African Player of the Year in 2024 after an exceptional period with Atalanta and Nigeria.

His hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen in May 2024 was a defining performance. He also made a significant contribution to Nigeria’s run to the 2023 AFCON final, and the AFCON 2025 bronze medal.

Lookman’s versatility, close control and ability to produce decisive moments make him a credible challenger. His move to Atlético Madrid in February 2026 has also placed him in another demanding European environment.

However, winning the award in 2024 does not make him Africa’s best player in 2026.

His performances in the current period must be assessed on their own merits, and honestly, his campaign has been one of ebbs and flows.

While he had a brilliant campaign in Morocco, his season before coming into the AFCON was poor as he scored three goals in 19 games for Atalanta, before moving to Spain.

How many Nigerians have won African Player of the Year?

Six Nigerian players have won the CAF African Men’s Player of the Year award. Rashidi Yekini won in 1993, Emmanuel Amunike in 1994, Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and 1999, and Victor Ikpeba in 1997. Osimhen added his name in 2023 before Lookman made it back-to-back Nigerian winners in 2024.

Nigeria’s record underlines the country’s long-standing influence on African football.

Only Cameroon (11) have more players who have won the Award than Nigeria, who are level with Cote d’Ivoire.

Morocco have produced five winners, while Senegal have produced four. Algeria, Liberia and Egypt are joint on three; Mali have two.

DR Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Togo, Tunisia and Zambia have produced just one CAF POTY Men’s Award winner.

Who is Africa’s best football player in 2026?

Hakimi has the strongest case, with his 2025 CAF award and three titles for club and country providing a solid foundation. Osimhen remains a leading challenger because of his goalscoring qualities and the league title he won with Galatasaray.

Ultimately, the answer depends on the period being assessed and the weight given to club success, international performances and consistency.

As of now, Achraf Hakimi is still Africa’s best football player, until the CAF Awards have a new winner.