Nigerian and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah and Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain winger Achraf Hakimi have made the final top three for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
Unveiling the nominees on Thursday for all the categories for the CAF Awards 2023, CAF noted that “the ultimate winner of each category is decided following votes from a panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals from Member Associations, Head Coaches and Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.”
For the CAF Women Player of the Year, Nigeria and Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala, South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda made the final cut.
Having led the Atlas Lions to Africa’s first ever semi-final placing at a FIFA Senior World Cup in Qatar 2022, Morocco’s Walid Regragui is favourite to win the CAF Men’s Coach of the Year ahead of Algeria and Simba FC coach, Abdelhak Benchika and Senegal’s Aliou Cisse.
For the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns will face competition from fellow South African Desiree Ellis and Morocco’s Reynald Pedros.
Below are the other final three nominees for the CAF Awards.
Interclub Player of the Year (Men)
Fiston Mayele (DR Congo, Pyramids), Peter Shalulile (Namibia, Mamelodi Sundowns), Percy Tau (South Africa, Al Ahly)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women)
Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana, Mamelodi Sundowns), Fatima Tagnaout (Morocco, AS FAR), Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)
Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United), Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt, Al Ahly), Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women)
Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco, AS FAR), Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC), Andile Dlamini (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)
Young Player of the Year (Men)
Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco, Real Betis), Lamine Camara and Amara Diouf (both play for Senegal and Metz)
Young Player of the Year (Women)
Comfort Yeboah (Ghana, Ampem Darkoa), Nesryne El Chad (Morocco, Lille), Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria, Pittsburgh Panthers)
National Team of the Year (Men)
Gambia, Morocco and Senegal
National Team of the Year (Women)
Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa
Club of the Year (Men)
Al Ahly (Egypt), Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Club of the Year (Women)
AS FAR, Sporting Casablanca (Morocco), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
