The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially revealed the ten finalists for the 2024 African Player of the Year award, with some of the continent’s brightest talents set to compete for the prestigious honour, MySportDab Reports.
The final shortlist includes Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba, highlighting the diverse spread of talent across Europe’s top leagues.
Lookman, who has had a standout year with Atalanta and the Nigerian national team, is seen as a strong contender following his impressive performances.
His contributions helped Atalanta win their first-ever European trophy, and his impact on Nigeria’s run to the AFCON final further boosts his credentials.
Meanwhile, Hakimi, a consistent performer for PSG and Morocco, continues to shine both at the club and international levels. Tapsoba’s dominant presence for Bayer Leverkusen in both the Bundesliga and European competitions also sees him among the favourites for the award.
Other notable names on the list include Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong, who captained the Super Eagles to the AFCON final, earning the MVP award in the process, and Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, who impressed for Rennes. Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) are also among the nominees.
Completing the shortlist are South Africa’s Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), and DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba (Olympique Marseille). Surprisingly, reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface did not make the final cut despite stellar seasons.
The CAF Awards ceremony is set to take place in Morocco this December, and performances from January to October 2024 will be considered for the prestigious honour.
Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists Announced
CAF also released the finalists for the 2024 Goalkeeper of the Year award. South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali, and Cameroon’s Andre Onana headline the competition. Williams, who is also in the running for CAF’s Interclub Player of the Year, will be aiming for a third consecutive win. Other nominees include Oussama Benbot (Algeria), Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo), Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia), and Yahia Fofana (Côte d’Ivoire).
Team, Coach, and Club of the Year Shortlists
The Men’s National Team of the Year finalists include reigning AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire, alongside Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, and Burkina Faso, among others. The Coach of the Year award will see Angola’s Pedro Goncalves, Côte d’Ivoire’s Emerse Fae, and South Africa’s Hugo Broos compete for top honours.
For the Men’s Club of the Year, the competition includes African giants Al Ahly (Egypt), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and TP Mazembe (DR Congo), among others.
With several categories and high-profile nominees, the CAF Awards promise to be an exciting event in December, as Africa’s best football talents are honoured for their achievements.
