November 17, (THEWILL) -Nigeria was conspicuously missing in nearly all categories as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed the list of nominees for the men’s categories of the CAF Awards 2023 on Friday. Meanwhile, a deep run in the World Cup in Qatar meant that Morocco was fairly represented.
The most coveted CAF African Player of the Year award saw 10 outstanding players shortlisted, including Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and new Al Nassr signing, Sadio Mané. Other prizes up for grabs are the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Team of the Year and Club of the Year awards with no Nigerian individual or club making the cut.
Voting criteria for selecting the winners weighs input from CAF’s Technical Committee, football media, national team coaches and captains, and clubs participating in CAF inter-club competitions.
The CAF Awards recognise standout achievements and performances in African football over the past season. Winners will be announced at a glamorous gala on Monday 11th December 2023, held at the prestigious Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. The event promises a star-studded lineup of African footballing talent.
The complete nominees, their counties and clubs, include:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, SSC Napoli)
2. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, SSC Napoli)
3. Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon, Besiktas)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
6. Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco, Manchester United)
7. Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
8. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco, Sevilla)
9. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Al Ahli)
10. Sadio Mane (Senegal, Al Nassr)
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
1. Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly)
2. Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
3. Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)
4. Ronwen Williams (Sout Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
5. Edouard Mendy (Senegal, Al Ahli)
INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR
1. Aymen Mahious (Algeria, USM Alger/Yverdon-Sport)
2. Zineddine Belaid (Algeria, USM Alger)
3. Fiston Mayele (DR Congo, Young Africans/Pyramids)
4. Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt, Al Ahly)
5. Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly)
6. Yahia Attiyat Allah (Morocco, Wydad Club Athletic)
7. Yahya Jabrane (Morocco, Wydad Athletic Club)
8. Peter Shalulile (Namibia, Mamelodi Sundowns)
9. Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)
10. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia, Al Ahly)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (U21)
1. Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso, Bournemouth)
2. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco, Real Betis)
3. Bilal El Khannous (Morocco, KRC Genk)
4. Lamine Camara (Senegal, Generation Foot/Metz)
5. Amara Diouf (Senegal, Generation Foot)
COACH OF THE YEAR
1. Abdelhak Benchikha (USM Alger)
2. Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
3. Tom Saintfiet (The Gambia)
4. Walid Regragui (Morocco)
5. Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
1. The Gambia
2. Equatorial Guinea
3. Mauritania
4. Morocco
5. Senegal
CLUB OF THE YEAR
1. USM Alger (Algeria)
2. Al Ahly (Egypt)
3. Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
4. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
5. Young Africans (Tanzania)
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
