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No Nigerian footballer, including Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, has been nominated for the 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
This follows the release of the 10-man shortlist by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday.
The nominees, announced on CAF’s official X account, include Senegalese star Sadio Mané, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo.
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Seven other players from across Africa also made the shortlist.
The winner is expected to be announced at the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Lagos on December 7.
Nigeria’s absence from the category comes as another disappointment for the country’s football fans, as no Nigerian player has made the shortlist in recent years.
The development comes after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the tournament ended in November 2025 after the team lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African play-off final.
The encounter ended 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo secured a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout.
Despite missing out on the World Cup, Nigeria finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, held between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026.
The men’s shortlist was announced a day after reports emerged that no Super Falcons player had been nominated for the Women’s Player of the Year award.
However, Nigeria’s women’s national team secured a place on the shortlist for the Women’s National Team of the Year.
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Full list of 2026 CAF Men’s Player of the Year nominees
- Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
- Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
- Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
- Ismael Saibari (Morocco)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Brahim Diaz (Morocco)
- Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
- Pape Gueye (Senegal)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
- Teboho Mokoena (South Africa)
Other categories announced by CAF include Men’s Young Player of the Year, Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Men’s National Team of the Year, Men’s Club of the Year and Men’s Coach of the Year.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony will take place in Lagos on Monday, December 7.
