Osimhen, Lookman missing as CAF reveal 2026 POTY nominees

Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have been left out of the 10-man shortlist for the 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.

The Nigerian duo’s absence is a major talking point, particularly because they have both won the prestigious award in recent years. Osimhen claimed the prize in 2023 before Lookman succeeded him the following year.

CAF’s list features Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa, Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo and Morocco international Achraf Hakimi.

The nominees were revealed ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Lagos on December 7.

Osimhen and Lookman miss out as CAF name 10 nominees

Osimhen’s omission comes after the Galatasaray striker won consecutive league titles in Turkey. The 2023 winner will not have the opportunity to reclaim the award this year.

Lookman is also absent despite his status as the 2024 African Player of the Year. The Atlético Madrid forward had an outstanding AFCON campaign in Morocco before moving to Spain, but none of Nigeria’s two big names were included when CAF announced its men’s shortlist.

Instead, Morocco have three representatives, with Hakimi, Saibari and Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz all included. Senegal also have three nominees: Ismaïla Sarr, Pape Gueye and Sadio Mané.

The full 10-man shortlist:

• Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire/Manchester United)
• Yoane Wissa (DR Congo/ Newcastle United)
• Antoine Semenyo (Ghana/ Manchester City)
• Ismaël Saibari (Morocco/ Bayern Munich)
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)
• Brahim Díaz (Morocco/Real Madrid)
• Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal/Crystal Palace)
• Pape Gueye (Senegal/Villarreal)
• Sadio Mané (Senegal/Al-Nassr)
• Teboho Mokoena (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)

Hakimi, Mané and Sarr lead the familiar names

Hakimi returns to the shortlist after winning the 2025 award, putting him in contention to retain his crown.

Mané, a two-time winner in 2019 and 2022, is also back among the nominees, having remained an influential figure for Senegal and Al-Nassr, winning the Saudi Pro League with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sarr’s inclusion recognises his contributions for club and country, while Gueye and Saibari also feature after establishing themselves among the top performers during the AFCON 2025 tournament.

For Nigeria, however, the attention will be on the absence of its two most recent winners. The country will have to look elsewhere for representation in the men’s individual category after Osimhen and Lookman failed to make the final 10.

The winners will be announced at the CAF Awards ceremony in Lagos on December 7, leaving Nigerians without a chance of celebrating a winner on home soil.