CAF Awards 2026: Date, venue, nominees and voting details

The CAF Awards 2026 will bring together some of Africa’s finest footballers, coaches, clubs and national teams to celebrate their achievements over the past year.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, with several of the continent’s biggest names shortlisted for individual and team honours. Although the initial date was December 7, 2026, they later moved it forward to December 2.

Reigning African Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi, former winner Sadio Mané, Ghana’s Antoine Semenyo and Manchester United winger Amad Diallo are among the leading contenders for the men’s awards. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons and several female footballers will represent the country in the women’s categories.

With voting underway and the final preparations being made for the ceremony, Afrik-Foot brings you everything you need to know about the CAF Awards 2026, including the date, venue, nominees, voting process and Nigeria’s representation.

When is the CAF Awards 2026?

The CAF Awards 2026 will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

CAF initially scheduled the ceremony for December 7, but announced a change on November 10, bringing the event forward by five days. This is because they want all the Europe-based stars to be able to attend the ceremony.

🗓️ 2 December 2026 📍 National Theatre, Lagos, Nigeria. A night of recognition. A celebration of excellence. Lagos, get readyyyyy! ✨ #CAFAwards2026 https://t.co/xvDmMxasS3

— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 10, 2026

The ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm Nigerian time (6:00 pm GMT and 8:00 pm Cairo time).

Where will the CAF Awards 2026 take place?

The 2026 CAF Awards will be held at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, in Lagos, Nigeria.

The decision makes Lagos the host city for the prestigious ceremony for the first time since 2017.

Nigeria’s selection as hosts is an opportunity for the country to welcome some of Africa’s biggest football personalities, including current and former African Footballer of the Year winners, national team coaches, club representatives and football administrators. It is also another opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s cultural heritage. And, of course, there will be music and entertainment.

CAF Awards 2026 nominees

CAF announced the nominees for the women’s categories on November 3, followed by the men’s categories on November 4.

Ten nominees were selected in each of the seven men’s categories, while the initial women’s announcement had four categories. The remaining three women’s categories will be confirmed after the CAF Women’s Champions League ends on November 15.

Men’s Player of the Year nominees

The Men’s Player of the Year award is the biggest individual prize at the CAF Awards.

Achraf Hakimi is seeking to retain the honour after winning the 2025 edition. However, the Paris Saint-Germain defender faces competition from several established African stars.

The nominees are:

1. Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire/Manchester United)
2. Yoane Wissa (DR Congo/Newcastle United)
3. Antoine Semenyo (Ghana/Manchester City)
4. Ismael Saibari (Morocco/Bayern Munich)
5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)
6. Brahim Diaz (Morocco/Real Madrid)
7. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal/Crystal Palace)
8. Pape Gueye (Senegal/Villarreal)
9. Sadio Mané (Senegal/Al-Nassr)
10. Teboho Mokoena (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)

Other men’s categories

CAF also announced nominees for six other men’s awards.

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year

The shortlist includes Oussama Benbot (Algeria), Vozinha (Cabo Verde), Yahia Fofana (Côte d’Ivoire), Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo), El-Mahdi Soliman and Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti and Yassine Bonou (Morocco), Edouard Mendy (Senegal) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa).

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year

The nominees for this awards are: Abdennour Belhocini and Ahmed Khaldi (Algeria), Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet and Mohamed Shehata (Egypt), Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, Mounir Chouiar and Sofiane El Moudane (Morocco), Khuliso Mudau and Teboho Mokoena (South Africa), and Abdel Raouf (Sudan).

Men’s Coach of the Year

The shortlisted coaches are: Lamine N’Diaye, Pedro Leitão Brito (Bubista), Sébastien Desabre, Hossam Hassan, Moatamed Gamal, Alexandre Santos, Mohamed Ouahbi, Walid Regragui, Pape Thiaw and Miguel Cardoso.

Men’s Young Player of the Year

The nominees are: Ibrahim Maza, Christian Kofane, Christ Inao, Yan Diomande, Hamza Abdelkarim, Caleb Yirenkyi, Ismael Kamissoko, Abdellah Ouazane, Ayoub Bouaddi and Ibrahim Mbaye.

Men’s National Team of the Year

The shortlisted countries are Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

Men’s Club of the Year

The nominees are CR Belouizdad, USM Alger, AS Maniema, Zamalek, AS FAR, Olympic Safi, RS Berkane, Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Hilal and Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

Women’s Player of the Year nominees

The Women’s Player of the Year category has some of the continent’s most accomplished footballers.

Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock are among the leading contenders following their country’s historic triumph at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

FOUR penalties saved 🤯 No one is getting past Mikaely Bihina. 🔥 She’s just earned Cameroon a WAFCON final spot 🇨🇲 👏 #54footballx https://t.co/vwepZXJ2Gs

— Official54fx (@54footballx) August 13, 2026

The nominees are:

1. Marine Dafeur (Algeria)
2. Marie Ngah Manga (Cameroon)
3. Michaely Bihina (Cameroon)
4. Monique Ngock (Cameroon)
5. Portia Boakye (Ghana)
6. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi)
7. Temwa Chawinga (Malawi)
8. Hanan Ait El Haj (Morocco)
9. Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa)
10. Barbra Banda (Zambia)

Interestingly, there is no Super Falcons player in this line-up, which is not much of a surprise, considering their poor performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Other women’s categories

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year

The nominees are Chloe N’Gazi (Algeria), Michaely Bihina (Cameroon), Cynthia Konlan (Ghana), Mercy Sikelo (Malawi), Fatoumata Karantao (Mali), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco), Christiana Uzoma (Nigeria), Adji Ndiaye (Senegal), Kaylin Swart (South Africa) and Hazel Nali (Zambia).

Women’s Young Player of the Year

The shortlist includes Romaine Gandonou (Benin), Maeva Nyadjou (Cameroon), Grace-Ruth Sery and N’Sira Ouédraogo (Côte d’Ivoire), Rose Kadzere (Malawi), Kautar Azraf (Morocco), Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi (Nigeria), Adji Ndiaye (Senegal) and Winfrida Gerald (Tanzania).

Women’s National Team of the Year

The nominees are Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.

Women’s categories yet to be announced

Three women’s categories have not been announced yet:

• Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
• Women’s Coach of the Year
• Women’s Club of the Year

CAF will determine these nominees after the end of the 2026 Women’s Champions League in Egypt.

Did Nigeria receive nominations for the CAF Awards 2026?

Yes. Nigeria has representation in three of the women’s categories announced so far, but failed to get a nomination in any of the seven men’s categories.

The country’s shortlisted representatives include:

• Christiana Uzoma: Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
• Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei: Women’s Young Player of the Year.
• Oluwakemi Adegbuyi: Women’s Young Player of the Year.
• Super Falcons: Women’s National Team of the Year.

The nominations provide some recognition for Nigerian women’s football, particularly after the Super Falcons’ continued presence among Africa’s leading national teams.

However, the absence of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman from the men’s Player of the Year shortlist is notable, especially considering Nigeria’s recent success in the individual award.

CAF Awards

Why Victor Osimhen was snubbed at CAF Awards 2026

Read →

The two forwards won the honour in 2023 and 2024 respectively, but neither made the 2026 shortlist.

How does CAF Awards 2026 voting work?

CAF uses a voting system involving different stakeholders in African football to determine the winners.

For the 2026 edition, the voting process runs from November 5 to November 20, 2026.

The voting involves:

• CAF Member Associations.
• CAF-affiliated clubs.
• Eligible coaches.
• Eligible national team captains.

These stakeholders are invited to cast their votes for the outstanding players, coaches and teams in the respective categories.

The system is designed to ensure that the selection process reflects different perspectives across African football rather than relying on a single group of voters.

Can fans vote for the CAF Awards 2026?

Fans are not eligible to vote in the CAF Awards 2026.

How many categories are at the CAF Awards 2026?

The 2026 CAF Awards will recognise achievements across 18 categories.

The awards cover individual performances, coaching achievements, club success and national team accomplishments in both men’s and women’s football.

The major categories include:

Men’s awards

• Men’s Player of the Year
• 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
• Men’s Club of the Year

Women’s awards

• Women’s Player of the Year
• Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
• Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
• Women’s Coach of the Year
• Women’s Young Player of the Year
• Women’s National Team of the Year
• Women’s Club of the Year

The remaining awards recognise outstanding contributions in other areas of African football.

Previous CAF Awards winners

Frequently asked questions about the CAF Awards 2026

When is the CAF Awards 2026 date?

The CAF Awards 2026 will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm Nigerian time.

Where is the CAF Awards 2026 venue?

The ceremony will take place at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, in Lagos, Nigeria.

Who are the nominees for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year 2026?

The ten nominees include Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mané, Antoine Semenyo, Amad Diallo, Brahim Diaz, Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye, Ismael Saibari, Yoane Wissa and Teboho Mokoena.

Did Victor Osimhen receive a CAF Awards 2026 nomination?

No. Victor Osimhen was not included in the 2026 Men’s Player of the Year shortlist.

Did Nigeria receive any nominations?

Yes. Nigeria has four representatives across three women’s categories: Christiana Uzoma, Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and the Super Falcons.

How can fans vote for the CAF Awards 2026?

No. The official voting process only includes member associations, clubs, eligible coaches and national team captains.

When does CAF Awards 2026 voting close?

Voting is scheduled to close on November 20, 2026.

How many categories are there at the CAF Awards 2026?

There are 18 categories recognizing outstanding achievements in men’s and women’s African football.